Dáil debates
Tuesday, 1 July 2025
An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business
3:25 am
Ciarán Ahern (Dublin South West, Labour)
In response to a question I put to him a number of months ago regarding autism supports and services for children in my constituency, the Taoiseach said he was of the view that many of these services should be provided through schools, and I agree. That being the case, why are so many schools in Dublin South-West being denied additional special needs assistants, SNAs, despite a clearly identified need? I have been contacted by many schools in my constituency, such as Firhouse Educate Together, Cnoc Mhuire Senior School in Killinarden and Scoil Aoife Community National School in Citywest, to name but a few, which have all be denied additional SNA allocation by the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, despite significant evidence of need being submitted and despite recommendations by special educational needs organisers, SENOs, who carried out the reviews. I would like to clarify why so many schools in Dublin South-West and around the country are being denied the additional SNAs they desperately need. Is there in effect a recruitment freeze in place?
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