Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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11. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills in relation to Circular 0030/2014, if he will clarify whether Section 7 means that children with behaviour related care needs will have to wait until all other interventions are tried before special needs assistant support is allocated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23364/14]

Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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I thank the Ceann Comhairle. Section 7 of Circular 0030/2014 states that access to SNA support for pupils with behavioural care needs will only be sanctioned under certain conditions. It seems to indicate that the Department believes a child with behavioural care needs should first be disciplined and punished by a school before SNA support is provided. Will the Minister explain the rationale behind the policy?

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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I do not think Deputy Wallace will be playing midfield with Wexford Youths any time in the future.

Section 7 of the circular states that in the case of new applications for SNA support, for children with behavioural care needs - that is, where a professional report has identified the care needs as being related to behaviour - in general, it will not be possible to consider access to SNA support until there has been a clear assessment of the child's needs in the classroom setting.

The term "in general" allows flexibility for the NCSE to make an SNA allocation immediately where there is a clear and obvious need. However, for most pupils, the circular sets out that it is important to assess how pupils respond to behaviour management strategies in class before allocating SNA support, as SNA support is not designed to be that first response to behavioural difficulties. This section of the circular will not prevent those pupils who need support from receiving that support.

Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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Some parents are very worried. A parent I know in Wexford, Jane Johnstone, has pointed out to me that the section of the circular is a serious concern for many parents. She stated:

Most of our kids wouldn't have the understanding of rules, and when kids present with challenging behaviours it's largely due to one of two reasons - either they can't communicate their needs, or are over-stimulated and unable to cope with their environment due to a sensory processing disability. To implement disciplinary action on a child who has a disability or autism is therefore effectively punishing them for having a disability, and for breaking rules that they cannot understand. In addition, there is a fear that these kids will be suspended or expelled, and will fall out of the education system completely, in the absence of needs-based support.

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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No, it is not true. They are being put in place to clarify the role of the SNA and to ensure that this nation's scarce resources are directed towards those who need them most. The Government approved an extra 390 SNA posts last December up to the end of this year, which means that almost 11,000 SNAs are now available to work. That is the largest number of SNAs we have had since the foundation of the SNA support system. It is not about saving money; it is about ensuring that those children who need SNA support can have access to it.

It is important to point out also that professionals - teachers - have significant skills, and they acquire those skills in their training in behaviour management within the classroom setting. Those behaviour management skills apply to all children, and they have the capacity to determine the way and on what basis they are applied.

Despite the tough economic circumstances we faced, we protected - and in some cases regarding SNA provision, increased - the budget devoted to supporting our children. This is not about saving money. It is a reflection of our Government's priorities to protect and cherish our children who have special educational needs. The circular does not seek to remove or reduce SNA support to those children who are very much in need of it.

Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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I understand the Government has retained the numbers-----

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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It has increased the numbers.

Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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The big problem is that the demand has grown greatly, which is unfortunate. The number of children needing help has increased a great deal and we have not kept pace in dealing with them. We know that resources are stretched, but children are falling behind now because they do not have as much support. The Minister of State said that teachers are qualified to look after many of these children, but the teachers already have their hands full dealing with the other children. The Minister cannot deny that children with difficulties will fall further behind, and it is unfair to allow so much of an impact on their potential to improve, which is what the parents are telling me is happening.

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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I was fortunate to work for seven years for a charity that cares for children with special needs. It is not fair to characterise - I am not making this accusation about Deputy Wallace - all children with special needs as having behavioural difficulties; a significant number of them do not. The professional assessment and conclusion drawn by the SENO should be the main factor in determining whether young people need SNA support. It is not and has never been the intention of this Government to reduce the support available to special needs children within our school system. This circular is, first, clarifying the role of the SNAs in terms of their function within the classroom setting and, second, ensuring that those children who need SNA support from the first day they enter the school environment have that support available to them. As their needs evolve and change and, hopefully, diminish, that SNA support can be reduced - there is nothing wrong with that - and those supports can be allocated to other children coming into the system who might be more deserving of them at that time.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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As Deputies Broughan and Troy are not present, we will move on to Question No. 15.