Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

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.

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I thank the Deputy for raising this sensitive matter before us. I assure him that clarity was brought on the issue of the SNA guidelines but there were some concerns in relation to them. Nothing has changed. We are working off the circulars for 2014 and that will continue to be case. I would like to allay the fears that some people have in relation to the guidelines and the letters issued last week. We understand the central roles that SNAs play in ensuring that students can access education and enable them to achieve the best possible outcomes. In a lot of instances, special education and education for children with additional needs is very much on the backs of special needs assistants and the work they do.

On the issue the Deputy raised, the NCSE is responsible for co-ordinating and advising on educational provision for children with additional needs. We will have 23,000 SNAs working in our educational system by the end of this year. It is important that we have. The number of SNAs available for allocation has continued to increase annually. Budget 2025 provided for 1,600, which is the largest ever number.

The NCSE manages the allocation of SNAs to schools and it is responsible for ensuring that these resources are allocated to children with the greatest level of need. The NCSE advised each school in June of their allocation for the 2025-26 school year. Each year schools are advised of their SNA supports, which indicates that the NCSE will undertake reviews to ensure that SNAs are allocated to the children with the greatest level of need. Such reviews can see an increased or reduced level of support or no change in allocation. This has always been part of the work of the council and is necessary to ensure that resources are allocated in line with the level of need.

Regarding the issue that the Deputy raised, the NCSE advised me that it has been in communication with the school regarding the deployment of an SNA allocation and that the student is being provided with support at present. The school submitted a further request to the council. There were a number of issues with that request. The council went back to the school looking for further information. This information was received by the council on 15 September and the review is being processed. I assure the Deputy that I will liaise with the NCSE and the Department to make sure the review is done as speedily as possible and we can get back to him. I take the points the Deputy made relating to his constituent and the level of need that is there. I assure him that I will work with the NCSE to ensure there is a timely review of the matter and we can get back to him as soon as it is completed.

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The NCSE guidelines need to be updated to ensure there are no further worries about what people believed were the changes introduced. We do need to look at some element of flexibility in dealing with specific children like Tiernan. He is registered blind and has a propensity to break bones. We can all imagine the difficulties that exist and we talking about a four-year-old child. The circumstances could improve in the future and he may need fewer resources. At this point in time he is lucky that the ASD class has not yet opened. I welcome the fact that the Minister of State will engage with the review process.

It probably should not have come to this House, but if we could have that happen as quickly as possible and deliver a positive result his mam, the principal and everyone else would be especially happy with that. Then we could provide the child with the necessary school framework in which he can learn. I want to put on record a letter that was written before the child was there. It was written by a visiting teacher for young people who are blind or vision impaired who was very concerned about the fact the school had told Tiernan's mother they were not in a position to provide SNA support for him. The visiting teacher stated:

Tiernan has a significant visual impairment and he also has a medical condition whereby his bones break very easily. He is coming from a nine child preschool room with full level 7 Aims support into a Junior Infant classroom of over 30 children with no additional support. Tiernan has blind registration and aside from the fact that he is going to have great difficulty navigating such a big classroom, if he trips and falls, he has the added danger that he could have a serious bone break.

There had been NCSE correspondence before but it was the usual stuff about the SNA resources; in other words, not an individualised resource but a school allocation to be deployed to children who have significant primary care needs. That is not a good enough answer. As I said, we need to ensure this process happens speedily and that Tiernan is provided with the supports he should have.

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I take the Deputy's point and thank him for putting the matter relating to Tiernan and his care needs on the record of the Dáil. I could give him a long-winded answer, but I take the point he has made and I assure him I understand the importance of SNAs in enabling students like Tiernan across the country to access education and get better outcomes. I undertake to consult the NCSE and liaise with the Deputy in a timely manner. I will ask for the review to completed and will certainly bring the matters he has put on the record of the Dáil. I understand as well that documentation is with the NCSE, through the school authorities. I will certainly liaise with the Deputy if that is okay.