Jen Cummins (Dublin South Central, Social Democrats)

I thank the witnesses for coming in today.

There is a huge amount of confusion, as already outlined. Could the witnesses write to us stating exactly where in the document it is stated that mainstream will not take away from special classes. A number of education experts I have encountered, including SNAs, parents, principals and teachers, cannot find it in the document. The difficulty is that there is no training on the Relate document that is supposed to be used. That is another complaint that has been made. Since there is no training, confusion has arisen. I am completely confused because, from what I have listened to today, there is a new circular on the role of the SNAs coming up, the report based on the pillars, a review on which there is confusion, and the new guidelines. Then there are the matters of training on Relate, the contract issues and issues regarding assault leave and occupational injury leave. All of these things are happening, yet the guidelines are coming in before all of them are sorted out. As has been said, over 2,000 reviews have been done in the last year or two. Could there be a pause so that when all of these things are put in place, there will be a fresh start? What I think is happening is that the officials are trying to catch up with themselves all the time and going nowhere, causing confusion. I am not personalising this at all but mean that the NCSE and Department are causing confusion and upset. SNAs are upset by how they are being treated. That centres around the lack of understanding and clarity about what their role is.

I asked yesterday in the Dáil Chamber whether there would be a pause and was told categorically that there would not be one, but I ask for one again. The review needs to be paused until everything is put in place. The allocations are going out but I hear from colleagues that there is not enough SNA support. There is considerable fear now among parents that their children will not be supported because the allocations will be to the children with the most complex needs. They absolutely do not want to take away from that. However, today has really highlighted for me that while the officials are doing a huge amount of work, on which I commend them, and while I do not envy the task they have ahead of them, it sometimes looks like what I describe is happening. This is not how an education system should be working.

I will spare the time. I have heard the answer already but I would really like to know in writing where in the document the confusion arises. I ask for a response on my suggestion to pause things and start afresh from 2026.