Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

Let me confirm for Deputy McGrath that any school that requires the assistance of the SNA support scheme will have it. Any child who needs SNA support will have access to it. I did not have the opportunity, as the Deputy did yesterday, to meet the parents of children from St. Senan's in Templeshannon in Enniscorthy. Had I had an opportunity I would have had no difficulty in meeting them. There are three special classes for autism spectrum disorder at the school.

There are 13 SNAs catering for 18 pupils in these three classes. This is far higher than the recommended ratio for SNA class groups of one SNA per three children. This is a situation where, given the constraints that apply across the board, everybody has to do more with less. I do not want to see any child who really needs SNA support go without it and no child who deserves it will go without it.

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