Kevin Humphreys (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I am particularly proud to stand here and support the SNAs. Ever since I came into politics, I have always fought the battle for the parent, and parents certainly values the assistance that an SNA gives to the child in the classroom. Those parents know that their child could not go through the educational system without the support of the SNA. On many occasions I have had to support the same child in an appeal for an SNA year after year.

I also wish to acknowledge the work that the SNAs carry out in the school. Many schools would not function without the SNAs. I want to acknowledge IMPACT, some of whose members are here today as professional representatives. They are a trade union, and not an "association", as they were referred to earlier on. They are a professional group of people representing workers, and they should be referred to as such. For far too long, we have had to fight the battle for the recognition of the trade union movement. A strike will probably take place on 20 December where other union members are looking for recognition and a right to negotiate, so I want to recognise the right of IMPACT to negotiate on behalf of SNAs.

Across the inner city there are SNAs that support schools from Sandymount to Ringsend and from City Quay to Sing Street. Those schools would not function or have proper integration without the help and support of SNAs. Many times an SNA has come to me in June saying that they had no job to go to in September. A fundamental right of a worker is the ability to plan their life. Allowing this situation is no way to treat a worker. I will recognise that earlier allocations will assist this greatly.

I want to touch on one point that Senator Ó Ríordáin mentioned, concerning the way post-primary SNAs are treated. For an SNA in post-primary to be asked to clean the toilets, paint the school or cut the grass is not acceptable. I put it to the Minister that additional training in that period would be very useful. This would assist SNAs who are anxious to provide a really good service and best serve the pupil. The SNA often become an enormous friend not only to the pupil but to their family. An SNA will show great concern for that child. Often, when an SNA is out sick, that child cannot attend school. Those services have to be built up and reinforced.

It was said to me by one of the SNA providers at the briefing in the AV room that the sign of a good SNA is that they do themselves out of a job. They build up the child's confidence, they provide support and they strengthen the child's ability to function. I have seen that in practice. I have seen SNAs go well above the call of duty. They engage with the school and make sure that when the pupil comes into the classroom, he is ready and able to participate. The disrespect that has been shown to this outstanding group of people over many years is no longer acceptable. We have to move on.

The sector has grown very quickly, and in many ways we have to catch up. We have to run to catch up however, because our SNAs are now an integral part of the educational system. It is just not true to say that if an SNA has a particular problem, they can take the issue to the board of management. As a matter of fact, the only people do not have representation rights on schools' boards of management is SNAs. They contribute hugely to the school, yet they are excluded from participating in the board of management, unlike the teachers, the parents, and sometimes, at post-primary level, the pupils. We have excluded SNAs. That has to be looked at. The idea that an SNA can bring problems to the board of management is not living in the real world. It does not happen.

I know that the Minister wants to do what is best here. I ask that he accepts the motion in the spirit in which it was put down. Let us work with the representatives of the SNAs to make sure that the child's experience in school is the best experience that it is possible for them to have. Above all, I call on the Minister to value the worker that provides that service, to make sure they get the respect that they deserve and give them certainty of employment so that they can plan their lives. We give everybody else that certainty. SNAs deserve the same certainty around their terms of employment.