Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)

The new special needs assistant, SNA, review guidelines have been met with outrage. The guidelines are about one thing and one thing only: restricting the number of SNAs and rationing SNAs. Children will suffer if this goes ahead. A five-year-old girl in Donegal, Alissa, has had to leave school because no SNA has been provided and she is one of many children across the State failed by the Government.

Every year we have parents and school leaders fighting a system of bureaucracy to secure what is essential for children with additional needs. Schools are now afraid to apply for SNAs in case they are taken away. Schools are being pitted against each other, SNAs disrespected and children again left to suffer.

I ask that the Minister for education change tack. Does the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, agree the Government should scrap the new guidelines and re-engage with school communities so we can have proper guidelines that have the support of everybody, including existing SNAs and families of those with additional needs?

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