Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)

I have been in contact with the council. I am deeply uncomfortable with the fact that while the system has retained the overall number of SNAs, the number allocated to MICC will reduce from 15 to 11. We can use whatever statistics and information are available, but it is inescapable that the number will reduce from 15 to 11, despite the Minister of State saying, "As there have been no reductions in the overall number of SNAs available for allocation in the coming school year, no school will lose SNAs because of cuts." I am having great difficulty understanding the absence of logic in arriving at the decision relating to MICC.

The Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, has ring-fenced, albeit through the health budget, €40 million for adults with intellectual disabilities and makes the point consistently that resources should follow the individual. Nobody has a difficulty with this. It is positive that the school system has retained the overall number of SNAs when it stands to reason that demand will increase, but it is difficult for parents of pupils at MICC to head into the summer knowing that their SNA allocation will reduce from 15 to 11, while the overall number has been retained. This is an exceptional case because there is a special unit in the school.

I welcome the NCSE's confirmation that it is developing an appeals process which is expected to be finalised in late August. I appeal to the Minister of State and the Government to consider a robust appeals system that will take into account the exceptional case that undoubtedly can be made for this school. This is a special, not a mainstream, class with special needs children. God knows, any of us would go through fire and water for them as parents.

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