Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for her response. It was an honest contribution, but contained within that honesty was clarity as to just how unhelpful it is. A total of 500 SNAs are undertaking a course that will not be accredited. We are supposed to alleviate the concerns of those 500 people by telling them the training will be assessed in the future and that other groups of trainees, perhaps, will be accredited for doing the same training. That seems quite insulting. If I were undertaking that course, I would be fairly demotivated.

The Minister of State said that the course has no cost for participants but that is not true. The effort involved for those SNAs in doing their day's work and then coming home and trying to provide childcare while they do a course online is a cost in itself. For that, they will not receive any accreditation. Even worse, they are being told that taking this course may be of assistance to them in pursuing further education. Equally, however, it may not be of any such benefit.

We need some urgency around this issue. I fully appreciate what the Minister of State is telling us but it is not good enough. All we are asking for is clarity as to what level SNAs will be accredited at for completing quite a difficult and worthwhile course. The Minister of State needs to do better on this matter.

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