Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is in recognition of the importance of SNAs and the difference they can make in our primary classrooms to young girls and boys that the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Michael McGrath, and the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, put in place a substantial plan to allow the recruitment of many additional SNAs next year. A plan was put in place to lead to the recruitment of many hundreds of additional SNAs in 2022 in order that we will be in a position to ensure the educational needs of our youngest are met. I cannot give the Deputy an answer regarding what is happening in the specific schools he mentioned. This does not need to be turned into Dublin versus the rest of the country issue. The needs the Deputy is referring to are also felt in schools in Dublin and beyond. He does it a disservice by trying to put it in that light, as he does with every issue.

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