Louis O'Hara (Galway East, Sinn Fein)

I thank the Labour Party for bringing forward this important motion. I want to use the opportunity to raise an ongoing allocation review in Lisheenkyle National School in my constituency, which is due to be completed in mid-May. The school currently has ten SNAs, who are a fantastic support to the children there. Parents have been informed by the SENO and school staff that the review is likely to reduce the number of SNAs in the school to just three or four. This school has a significant number of children with special educational needs. Needless to say, parents are extremely concerned at the prospect of such a drastic cut in support.

I have had parents in touch with me saying that if supports are cut to this extent, their child will no longer have an appropriate school place. One parent, who was recently able to go back working because their son was doing so well in school, feels they will have to leave their job if this goes ahead. This is absolutely disgraceful. The parents have a number of concerns about the process of this review and its timing. Why has it been left to May, at the very end of the school year? Behavioural care needs of children are not being taken into account as part of this review, only primary care needs. The impact on children with autism and other conditions is not being considered. According to the NCSE, the school is not a priority for opening a special class as there is no demand known in the area. How is demand known to an area? There are many children already in the school and in the local area who would avail of special classes. This is an absolutely unacceptable situation where children with additional needs will be left without the supports they need and without an appropriate school place. I ask the Minister to address this in her comments and to look into the specific case of Lisheenkyle National School. I ask her to ensure that a drastic cut in SNA support does not happen in the school and that it receive an adequate allocation or appropriate special classes. It would be an absolute failure of these children if that does not happen.

See this speech in context