Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)

The same parents, SNAs, teachers and principals in Kildare have expressed concern about the allocation model based on a whole-school approach. Many SNAs and parents - mostly parents, probably - are worried that SNAs supporting mainstream children will be pulled into a specialised setting, instead of additional SNAs being sanctioned. That would be essentially robbing Peter to pay Paul, as has been stated. No child should be without the support he or she needs. Removing resources can have a significant and long-standing emotional impact. I hope the Department is giving this due consideration.