Gerald Nash (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome our colleagues from IMPACT, who represent so professionally the interests of SNAs across the education system in this country at primary and secondary level. I recognise their absolute right to fulfil their role as a professional trade union in the context of Irish legislation, and to represent professionally those who seek their representation. They do that job very professionally.

It is fair to say that there is not a public representative in this Chamber, or indeed in the other Chamber of these Houses, that has not made at least one representation to the system around the allocation of SNAs, on behalf of a school, of parents or of children.However, it is rare that we have a discussion about the basic terms and conditions enjoyed and experienced by those who deliver that service, and that is a flaw. There is little in the Government amendment to give anyone in the Public Gallery, those listening in and those SNAs who IMPACT represents any great hope that the Government is at all interested in providing a pathway to greater job security or that such is on the horizon in the future. In fact, a key part of my colleague, Senator Ó Ríordáin's, Labour Party motion is neglected. The Government amendment is largely silent on the issue of job security of an SNA and certainty in terms of hours and income.

My colleague, Senator Kevin Humphreys, alluded to the fact that the system of provision of SNAs over the past decade and a half or so has grown organically and on a piecemeal basis. Of course, one of the problems associated with that is that SNAs have become second-class citizens in terms of employment in the public system. They certainly do not enjoy anything like the same rights, entitlements and terms and conditions of their counterparts in the education sector and in many respects, they are victims of the fact that this system has grown organically over many years. Great credit is due to administrations in the 2000s and, in fact, the administration I served in from 2011 to 2016, for ensuring that the numbers of SNAs grew significantly to meet the demands my colleague, Senator Bacik, outlined earlier.

It is regrettable to listen to a Minister, for whom I have a huge amount of respect, talking about the cost of SNAs. There are far too many people in Irish politics who speak about the cost of everything and who, unfortunately, know the value of little, and do not recognise that value. That particular Minister certainly is somebody who recognises the value of public service but it is regrettable that comments like that would be made and that an issue would become confused. What we are talking about here is respect. It is about dignity. It is about providing job security and certainty, the type of certainty that all workers in Irish society are entitled to.

I know many SNAs. I have family members who are special needs assistants. I have many friends who are special needs assistants. They are extremely dedicated to the job that they do, the school they represent and the student they support through the education system. Unfortunately, the system has grown to take advantage of the dedication and selflessness that is always displayed by SNAs and to make certain assumptions about what an SNA is prepared to do. My colleague, Senator Ó Ríordáin, made reference to the fact that some SNAs in the system are expected to clean toilets, paint classrooms and do odd jobs around a school when the students are not there outside of the academic year, which is objectionable. It tells us all we need to know about how the system in general treats SNAs. It is a practice that is completely unacceptable and should end. It is not too much to expect that the thousands of SNAs who do remarkable selfless work should be afforded the same respect, dignity, job security and certainty as others working in the public service are entitled to expect.

This is a matter of respect. This is fundamentally what this motion is about. I hope that this House can unite behind this motion and reject the Government's narrow amendment, which we object to. We will put forward our motion because we believe that represents the direction in which the SNA system should travel because it is about respect, dignity, job security and certainty. If the majority of Members of this House can unite around this motion, it will represent a landmark, a milestone and a turning point in terms of the working conditions of SNAs.