Mr. Andy Pike:

The standardised approach the Senator advocates is something we would agree with. It probably starts with a new contract with a new minimum essential qualification but there are other things the committee will have heard today that would help. Circular 0030/2014, which sets out the role of the SNA, clearly needs to be reviewed and changed to reflect the complexity of the role.

There are other issues as well. In schools that are administered by education and training boards, SNAs, as well as teachers, can stand for election to become the staff representative on the board of management, which is great, but that is not the case in independent schools. A change to statutory arrangements is needed to allow that to happen. Under the handbook, only teachers can stand to become members of the board of management in a school. I will conclude in case anyone else has something to add.