Pearse Doherty (Sinn Fein)

Therefore, the numbers should be increasing rather than decreasing, yet the Government is sacking 12% of SNAs. The only other explanation is that a child's care needs will diminish over time. I have pointed out that the children in question are within the autism spectrum, children with Down's syndrome and with ADHD. I do not know how close the Minister is to the people working on the ground, but as a good Minister and Deputy, I am he is in tune with his own constituents. This is happening across the board. Some 12% of special needs assistants are gone and there is no miraculous cure in the education system. Children with special needs are still in the system, but the criteria are being enforced very strictly. This will result in 12% of all special needs assistants being sacked by the Government by March.