Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

Like Deputy Breen, I am heartened by some of the comments made by Members of the Government parties regarding the recognition of what this motion was about, namely, freezing the review until such time as we review the role of SNAs and the criteria involved. The Government's amendment to the motion states the criteria has not changed, but the feeling out there is that the implementation of the criteria has changed. This is against a background where last year 100 special classes were closed which directly affected 500 pupils. There has been an increase in mainstream class sizes, in which there has been no arrest since. I will give the Minister, Deputy Coghlan the benefit of the doubt; she has only been in the job for a week. The Fine Gael motion to freeze the review recognised that to allow schools to keep an SNA where the pupil had moved on was wrong and I hope she takes that correction in the spirit in which it was intended. That is from where we are coming.

Circular 07/02 states that: "Children who need additional education arising from their disability should consider applying for extra resource hours...[A] balance must be struck between allocating necessary care support and the right of the child to acquire personal independence skills." We are splitting hairs over what care attendance is and the role of the SNA, which is why we have called for revision of the criteria and the role of the SNA. What is education? What is care? Is turning a page for child who does not know he or she has to turn a page part of his or her education or care?

I am a member of the board of management of St. Catherine's special national school in Wicklow. We met the representatives from the Department who will come to conduct a whole school evaluation next month. I made the point to them that their evaluation is based on the current class structures, which comprise six children in each class with more than two SNAs. If the SNA review continues, in most cases it will be put back to a baseline of two SNAs per class, with every appeal having to be made on an individual basis.

One mother whose child is on the autism spectrum said:

To suggest a change in the education provision at this stage in his school life flies in the face of all we know about students with autism and their requirement for routine, structure and transition. If integration with his mainstream peers is to be pursued as discussed at a previous meeting with the SENO then SNA provision is essential for this child in its planning and implementation.

See this speech in context