Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

I support the motion. It is a good motion and it is good to have this debate in the Dáil. Special needs assistants provide an invaluable service in our schools. They play a key role in our mainstream schools by helping children with special educational needs to learn with their peers in an inclusive way. While many parents and teachers appreciate the support and assistance that SNAs give to children to help them to navigate the mainstream school system, the Government consistently undervalues and under-appreciates the important role they play. Only last year, SNAs decided they had no option but to vote overwhelmingly for industrial action. This was borne out of immense frustration at what they saw as the Government's failure to listen to and address their mounting concerns.

Will the Minister indicate whether there are any plans to review the supplementary assignment panel with a view to giving more rights to SNAs who are made redundant? That is an important question and I call on the Minister to address it in some formant.

I call on the Government to delay implementing the recommendation of the recent National Council for Special Education review until it consults with more than 9,000 SNAs who have union representation. Why did the NCSE fail to do this in the first place? It is important to consult with the union representing 9,000 SNAs.

I urge the Government to consider allowing SNAs sit on school boards of management to help address the power imbalance. That would allow SNAs to have a say in matters relevant for them. SNAs play an integral part in schools and I believe they should have some sort of formal representation on boards of management, if possible. This is an important teaching and supervisory role in schools. SNAs should have a more democratic say in the schools where they work and teach.

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