Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Stanton, for attending this debate. I wish to highlight the lack of special needs assistant, SNA, support for children with autism and other special needs in my constituency of Roscommon-Galway. I and many of my colleagues are dealing with cases every week in which parents of children with special needs are struggling and fighting for services for those children in a bid to meet their educational and psychological needs. Like other parents, those parents only want the best for their children but they are constantly encountering obstacles.

I will outline the story of a ten year old boy in my constituency. This boy is non-verbal and presents with autism and associated intellectual disability. He previously had access to resource teaching hours and SNA support on a full-time basis for a number of years in a primary school setting. However, the SNA support has been removed from September 2018, which is having a detrimental effect on his schooling and development. This child needs constant supervision. He has issues with self-care and safety and he is at risk of running out of the classroom or the schoolyard if not properly supervised. The little boy is non-verbal and was making very good progress with his SNA. The family has provided all the assessment reports and the psychology report outlining his case in detail. I have submitted a parliamentary question on this matter. I would be grateful if the Minister could assist this young boy and reinstate his SNA as soon as possible. It is vital for his future educational and psychological needs.

I am aware of another boy in a national school, a neighbour, in the same situation. He needs the full-time care of a SNA but that has been withdrawn. An appeal for that boy has been submitted and I sincerely hope it will be successful.

In a reply to a parliamentary question from me in June last it was indicated that 800 additional SNAs were to be allocated from the beginning of the school year, with 140 expected to be allocated by the end of 2018. I would be happy if the Minister of State could provide an update on those figures even if he does not have it with him today. Have the additional 800 been allocated and, if so, how many have been allocated to the Roscommon and Galway area? I hope we can look after these vulnerable children. I have a nephew and a niece who suffer from autism. They are looked after quite well by the authorities, it must be said, but when I watch their parents I can it is a challenge and a struggle. I have fantastic time for the parents of such children. They make such an effort. It falls to us to make every representation possible on their behalf so they receive the supports.

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