Jen Cummins (Dublin South Central, Social Democrats)

I thank the witnesses for coming in today. I am delighted to see them all here. As some of the witnesses know, I was a Fórsa member so I have had plenty of engagement with SNAs over many years - I do not know how long at this stage. At the outset I will say that I have had many people contacting me with regard to the SNA review. I brought that up yesterday in the Dáil and I will bring it up with the witnesses later.

For those who are asking for evidence about the way SNAs are treated - the people in question are not here now - it goes back to the Respect for SNAs campaign that had to be launched a number of years ago when there was no respect for SNAs, as is sometimes still the case. Will the witnesses who are SNAs tell the committee what that would look like now? That campaign was so good at looking at how SNAs should be treated and can be treated. Qualifications were mentioned here a few times. A person can have the best qualifications in the world but if he or she does not have the personality and the heart to go with their work as an SNA, it does not matter if they have level 19 because they are not going to be the right person for the job. Having said that, continuous professional development and qualifications for any member of a school staff working with children with additional needs are so important. I want to say this because I was quite furious earlier as I listened to those contributions. I am sad they are not here to hear that. Maybe they might listen back. How would the SNAs see the Respect for SNAs campaign now? I will stop talking after this question. For people who do not understand what that campaign might have meant - it was about the respect that is needed - can Ms McSherry and Ms Quirke speak about how the campaign worked?