Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)

Ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh an Aire nua agus tá súil agam go mbeidh córas oideachais níos fearr againn. I listened to the Minister's reply carefully. I hope he will show some flexibility in this matter. The difficulty for schools and parents is the arbitrary deadline of 18 March for awarding SNAs. Leaving children who have real needs without the necessary supports is a travesty. Does the Minister agree that the deadline is an arbitrary, misinformed and sneaky method, one that treats enrolments as stopping in mid-air in March when they actually continue until September?

The potential loss of SNAs will see many children falling further behind and a danger of increased levels of suspension and exclusion. Does the Minister accept that the parents of children who are most in need of SNA supports are often the least able to access services? Earlier I received a call from a young mother from my constituency regarding her six-year old child who has a mental age of two. She is trying to get the child into a local school and the immediate problem she faces relates to SNA provision. It is a nightmare for schools but it is a bigger nightmare for parents.

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