Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)

I thank Deputy Brian Hayes for the opportunity to speak on this issue, which I previously raised on the Adjournment debate last Thursday. The response on that occasion came in the form of a Civil Service script which did not refer to the central issue in my submission and was read by a Minister of State who had no connection with the Department of Education and Science or the civil servant who wrote the script. The script might as well have been e-mailed to me for all the heed paid to my comments. I hoped the Minister would have stayed in the Chamber on this, my second attempt to bring this issue to her attention but perhaps her officials will ensure she is made aware of my concerns. This is a vital issue for our most special and deserving of young citizens and the Minister's decision will determine the quality of the rest of their lives.

Great progress has been made in making provision for the education of special needs children generally. While parents continue to fight step-by-step for services, the objective of Government policy is that each special needs child can develop to the maximum of his or her potential. The decision of the Government and the former Minister for Education and Science to remove 1,200 special needs assistants from the educational system will be an unmitigated disaster for these special citizens. The progress they have made will soon be reversed in the absence of SNAs.

In the specific case of St. Raphael's special needs school in Celbridge, it is proposed to withdraw 4.5 SNA posts. All of the 47 pupils at this school have been assessed as being in the category of severe to profound disability. They are taught in classes of six students with one SNA to every two pupils. I have also been contacted by a Labour Party councillor in Castlebar, Mr. Harry Barrett, who has given me details on the situation in St. Anthony's special needs school, which is attended by 40 pupils aged between six and 18 years and currently employs 13 SNAs. It is proposed to remove four, or 33%, of the SNA posts from each of these special schools. This decision is not based on the needs of the children, it is part of a culling process to reach the target of disposing of 1,200 SNA posts. In both of these special schools, two SNAs are required to attend a child who needs to use the bathroom or becomes disturbed, leaving only one SNA to assist the remaining five children in the class. That will no longer be possible if some are removed, with severe consequences for the educational development and physical safety of the children concerned.

I appeal to the new Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Coughlan, whom I know to have a sympathetic understanding of children with special needs, to review the decision on SNAs and, in particular, to grant the appeal lodged to the special educational needs organiser in the case of St. Raphael's in Celbridge and St. Anthony's in Castlebar. Earlier this week, I presented to the Minister a collection of petitions on behalf of St. Raphael's in which parents set out in heartfelt detail how their special children would be affected. All have expressed fear for the future of their children and anger that the cull of special needs assistant posts was even contemplated. I ask that she read the petitions before she makes any final decision.

I recognise that the Government is strapped for cash but surely savings could be found elsewhere than from the most needy and deserving children. I rely on the Minister's humanity to correct this unacceptable decision.

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