Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)

It is very hard to discuss anything relating to SNAs without dealing with the onslaught of fears that have been expressed to politicians due to the guidelines from the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, which provide that there will be a very limited school-led review and that the window will be shut. There has been row back on that. There has also been row back on the fear that SNA allocations would be unified across mainstream and special classes. I welcome that we have heard that from the Department, Government and the NCSE. I know this will be delivered in written form to schools. I ask that the guidelines be updated. The guidelines should state exactly how things are. That request is fair enough. We have all met with SNAs, teachers and principals on that and that is all they are looking for.

There are issues relating to the conditions for SNA allocations. On this basis, I raise the issue of Tiernan Clarke. It is an issue I brought up with the Minister of State previously. I have also spoken to the Taoiseach and the NCSE around it. It is something we really need to see movement on. Tiernan Clarke is from Riverstown on the Cooley Peninsula. He is now aged four. He is in Rampark National School. He is registered blind and he has a condition that renders his bones prone to breaking if he falls. I have been told that he has had a number of what I am going to call minor falls. We are dealing with a health and safety issue. There is an ASD class to be opened in October, but at this point in time there are three SNAs in his class setting. These circumstances are going to get a lot worse at some point this month.

I understand the way the allocations are done this weather. They are not done on the basis of a single allocation for a child. However, we are talking about a child who at best can see 6 m where we can see 30 m. We are talking about a four-year-old. He has albinism and photosensitivity. Someone has to make sure he puts sun cream on before he goes out for fear of his propensity for cancer.

We need to ensure that he has a one-on-one SNA allocation. At this stage I cannot see anything other than this working at this stage. While his condition may get worse, he will get older and learn a skillset. In the future he might not need the supports that are needed now. His mother has said this. Whether talking to his teachers, principal or his visiting teacher - I have given Minister of State correspondence - who deals with children who are visually impaired, they are absolutely afraid that he will not have the supports that are required.

I understand the rules. They need to be examined in general, but, beyond that, we need to have an element of flexibility because we are talking about a health and safety issue that is causing huge stress for a family. We are also talking about a child who at this point in time does not have the supports he should have. It is a circumstance that is going to get worse over the next couple of weeks. I ask that the Minister of State does everything in his power to resolve this issue.

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