Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Taoiseach for the response and saying so clearly that there is no freeze on SNAs. That is at odds with the experiences reported to us by principals. I would welcome a more detailed written response from the Taoiseach on that because we have been told there is a directive from the Department that amounts to an obstacle or blockage to the hiring by principals of the SNAs that are needed.

We all accept demographic change, but there is clearly a lack of planning from the Department because we know the numbers of children born each year and should be able to plan ahead for need.

That is what is frustrating parents. We heard from a parent in the midlands who has applied to 16 schools for their son, aged six, who should be going into senior infants in September but is still in preschool because there are no places available. The SENO now says that parent must apply to mainstream schools despite having a diagnosis stating the child must have access to a special school place.

These are the stories of desperately frustrated parents. We need to hear from the Government that there will be forward planning put in place to ensure there will be enough staff hired and enough places made available-----

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