Margaret Murphy O'Mahony (Cork South West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As a former SNA, I acknowledge the fantastic work SNAs do. They are a huge part of the education system. I welcome the increase in special needs provision in recent years. The transformation of special education over the past 20 years, in which successive Governments have played a part, has been remarkable. We can all be very proud of this. Nonetheless, parents of children with special needs were shocked to hear a senior Government Minister say that there are now more SNAs than there are gardaí. There is concern that the Minister for Finance, Deputy Donohoe, believes this is a bad thing as he is reported as having expressed alarm about the sharp increase in the cost of education for children with special needs - our most vulnerable children - which is costing the State more than the higher education system. It is reported that the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, has commissioned a review of the special needs assistance scheme. The Minister, Deputy Bruton, referenced this review in his reply. According to Lorraine Dempsey of the Special Needs Parents Association rising costs are more than justified and what is alarming is that the Department of Education and Skills has not anticipated these increases. I would like the Minister to comment on the matter.

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