Mary Seery Kearney (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I rise to discuss special needs assistants, SNAs and the front-loading of SNA allocations. Like many of my colleagues, I have received emails as part of a campaign expressing concern with regard to the front-loading model of SNA allocation.

I have discussed this with officials in the office of the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, and believe it is a really good idea. It is right to have SNAs in place when a child comes into a school, with the school given discretion with regard to the allocation of hours in response to the need. There is an equality of access that comes with that which is very important. It means that every child, regardless of whether he or she has a diagnosis, can be allocated a certain number of hours if his or her parents express a need for same.

However, I also appreciate the concern that with this model a lot depends on the competence, efficiency and effectiveness of the special needs co-ordinator in a school, whether he or she is communicating well with parents, is in receipt of the education passport and has spoken to either the pre-school, in the case of children starting primary school, or the primary school in the case of children transitioning to secondary school. The latter is important to ensure the proper passing over of information. There was a time when SNAs in post-primary schools went back to visit SNAs in primary schools but again, that comes down to the effectiveness, passion and willingness of the special needs co-ordinator in a school and whether he or she is thorough and comprehensive.

There is a concern out there and I am sure many in this House would like to have the opportunity to contribute to a debate on these matters and to express some of the concerns of those who are emailing us. I ask that we invite the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, to the House for a debate on this matter.In this regard, I support this front-loading model. However, I would like an opportunity to ventilate the concerns on it.