John Connolly (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

One of the things that has worked so well to make our schools more accessible and more inclusive is the deployment of additional SNAs to our schools over the past two decades. I raise this issue in light of the recent publication of the guidelines for the review of SNA allocations in schools provided by the NCSE and the concern raised around it. I have to say I feel some of the concern is very justified. Specifically, it is disappointing in light of the investment the Government made prior to the summer in non-mainstream classes in mainstream schools. The point of concern is that the guidelines now refer to schools now being resourced "on a whole school allocation basis. Schools are expected to deploy SNA posts to their mainstream or special class based on the greatest level of need across the student population". This infers a departure from the standard provision of two additional SNAs per non-mainstream class. It infers the departure in the existing review and is also something schools could be concerned about in future. In the clarification provided by the NCSE, it is said that no change will be made to the baseline of two SNAs in each special autism class. It leaves other categories of special classes unaware of their provision.

See this speech in context