Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I am trying to move as quickly as I can but I assure the Deputy that all those considerations are uppermost in my mind. The package of DEIS supports will be announced in the not-too-distant future.

The Minister of State will probably wish to speak on the SNAs but I want to acknowledge the clarification issued on that. As I have said in other forums, the contribution of SNAs to the school environment and everything we seek to achieve in schools is invaluable. I say that here and everywhere and I acknowledge that. What issued was clarification on what the Deputy referred to as 72 hours, or the 12 days as they were originally in 2005. This was an arrangement that was agreed to and signed up to in 2005 and was modified under the Croke Park agreement and so on in 2011. There was no change in work practice and nothing new or extra was added in these duties. I want to be clear that no one should be or is being asked to perform anything extra or anything outside of what was agreed and signed up to as a duty.