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

The circular referred to by the Deputy has been designed to clarify and restate the purpose of the SNA scheme, which is to provide schools with additional support staff to assist children with special educational care needs. My officials have held a number of meetings with management bodies and parent representative groups to address concerns which have arisen since the circular issued. The purpose of the circular is not and was not to reduce the level of SNA support being allocated to schools. For the coming school year, over 10,900 SNAs are being allocated to schools, which is more than at any time previously.

In order to address concerns parents may have about the circular, the National Council for Special Education has been asked to prepare an information booklet for parents to explain the provisions of the circular and allay fears they may have. To be frank, there were fears as a result of the circular. On reflection, when one considers that we are preparing an information booklet for parents to explain the provisions of the circular, it might have been better phrased.

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