Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I add my voice to those who have welcomed the announcement yesterday of the new allocation of special needs assistants by the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan. Up to 610 additional SNAs will be allocated from September 2015. When the Minister spoke on radio this morning, she made explicit the Government's commitment that every child with an assessed care need would have access to SNA support. The new allocation reflects a significant increase in assessed needs, of which her Department has become aware, and is very welcome for many parents around the country. It means that the allocation of full-time SNA posts will rise in September to 11,820.

Also welcome is the announcement made by Vodafone of 200 new jobs in Dublin, with the European sales centre to be located in Carrickmines.

I commend Senator Jillian van Turnhout for her initiative in putting together an all-party Oireachtas group on children's future health which will work with the Irish Heart Foundation. I commend her for the successful launch of the all-party group this morning. Colleagues in the Dáil and the Seanad were present at the launch, including Senator Marie Moloney. Professor Donal O'Shea and Miriam O'Callaghan were also in attendance. I look forward to having a debate in the House, perhaps in the autumn term, on the work of the all-party group which will address the issue of children's future health on a cross-party basis and with a view to taking real action.