Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

There is a serious shortage of special needs assistants, SNAs, in schools in west Cork. In the past week, schools in Ballydehob, Caheragh, Schull, Maulatrahane, Dreeny and elsewhere have urgently required SNAs. Despite announcements in budget after budget that extra SNAs have been agreed, nothing is happening for these schools on the ground. This is an urgent situation that needs addressing as many of these children are being treated shockingly.

Some must go home early from school daily as proper help is not available in their schools. One principal told me she knows of schools in Dublin that were in the same position but got SNAs immediately upon requesting them. Why do we have a two-tier society in our education system? Will the Minister work with these schools in west Cork to resolve this crisis for school principals, teachers, staff, parents and, most of all, vulnerable children?

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