Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)

When I raised this through a parliamentary question on 10 April, I welcomed the Government's commitment to special needs assistant numbers with new posts by 2025 but good intentions are not enough. I asked the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, how the numbers were proposed to be distributed, and specifically for me how they would be allocated to schools in Dublin Bay North where families continue to face serious delays. Hundreds of people are getting in contact with me and my office about this. Behind the national figures are real children, many with autism and many complex needs, who are still without appropriate school places. Parents in my constituency and across the country are exhausted from fighting the system that should be there to support them.

I also highlighted delays with the Minister of State. We are told it is being streamlined but schools are still waiting too long for decisions. When support is recommended, too often the recruitment process is blocked due to funding constraints. I thank the Minister of State for engaging with me regarding Belmayne Educate Together and the plan for a special school there and for the effort he made with the Department. We do, however, need transparency in the allocations, we need faster reviews, and we need funding to follow the needs not the headline. Every child in this country deserves this. That is the standard we should be aiming for.

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