Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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The Minister stated that there is no assessment in respect of SNAs. Perhaps I said "assessment" but I meant to say "allocation". Surely when people go to the appeal and exceptional review process they are appealing something, be it an allocation or an assessment. As I stated, 50% of those appeals are granted. The allocation is not working. It is being put back on schools and overstretched principals. Principals, particularly those in rural areas, are managing so much. They have to manage the school and all the various paperwork and then re-appeal for all these things, with an allocation then being granted 50% of the time.

The schools that are refused an allocation do not understand why and are fundraising to employ SNAs separately. This is at a time when there is no shortage of SNAs. When roles are advertised, many applications are received. In such circumstances, there is no reason not to provide the SNAs that need to be allocated. We hear, in the context of the children's disability network teams, that there are no staff. However, there are staff available.

I did not get a response to my question on access to ASD classes. If somebody needs an ASD class, and there is a new school being built in the area but it is already oversubscribed, why is there a lack of planning? Children spend eight years in primary education, so the Department knows that they will need places at second level. Why is there no planning for the number of students who need either ASD classes, special classes or special schools?