Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

To clarify once again, the purpose of this circular was not to provide for or allow for a reduction in the number of SNAs allocated nationwide. That there will be almost 11,000 SNAs in place by the end of the year is testament to this fact. The purpose of the circular simply was to clarify the role of the SNA in the school setting. That role is to provide for the care needs of a young person who needs such support to be able to operate successfully in a school environment. In the past, perhaps, the role of the SNA somehow had expanded beyond that role and it was important to be able to clarify for parents, teachers and school communities as a whole what exactly that role required. It is not and never has been the intention to use this circular somehow to reduce the supports available to young children who are in need of those supports to be able to function successfully in a school environment. Ultimately, the professional decision that is taken on the allocation of SNAs rests with their SENOs, who work as agents of the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, at a local level. The SENOs engage with parents and teachers and conduct a professional assessment of whether a child requires that SNA support. They also carry out an ongoing review of each child's individual care needs as the child progresses through the school system. Consequently, if that SENO makes that recommendation, then yes, the child obviously will need, require and secure those kinds of supports. However, as a child goes through the system, his or her care needs over time evolve and hopefully will lessen. It is important to reflect this in the allocation of SNAs in order that those who are entering the school system, perhaps at junior infants for the first time, can have resources directed towards them in times when the resources available are very scarce.

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