Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Independent)

I thank the Cathaoirleach, and the witnesses for the various presentations. It was particularly informative to hear the schools' presentations. This issue is something we come across almost every day of the week, particularly in relation to assessments of need, access to the school transport system and the availability of staff. One issue that all the witnesses have raised this morning is the reassessment and new guidelines for SNAs. Will they indicate what the new guidelines mean in practice in schools? What will change on a daily basis under these new guidelines? What difficulties arise as a result of the guidelines in the normal day-do-day running of a school?

The question of suspensions came up. We often have parents coming to us about this. A child gets a place in a school, special school or unit but after a number of weeks or even a shorter period, for whatever reason it is found to be impossible to continue the education of that child in the school. How can we overcome that difficulty?

The delay in getting assessments of need raises difficulties for parents and children in accessing the services they require. Will the witnesses address a few of those questions?