Mark Wall (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I formally second Senator Carrigy's amendment to the Order of Business.

Yesterday, we spoke about the lack of teachers. The Cathaoirleach mentioned that this is not just an issue for Mayo, it is also a problem throughout the country. I support the many calls to support teachers at this particular time. There have been calls for a Dublin allowance by my party's education spokesman, Deputy Ó Ríordáin, which I support. We must ensure that there is support from the Government for teachers regarding the cost of living, housing, etc. This is something we need to look at.

Today, I want to talk about special needs assistants, SNAs. In recent weeks and months, I have been contacted by many SNAs in the Kildare south area and in my hometown of Athy, who currently have a campaign for SNAs that have experienced trauma through injury of minding those very special children on a day in and day out basis. They are at pains to point out they are not blaming the children in any way but have felt let down by the Department and the Government. In this regard, I refer to what they are left with after the injuries they sustain in minding those children day in and day out.

The campaign is looking for three calls which have been put out as part of the forthcoming election. SNAs are looking for financial assistance to cover medical bills. When you sit down and talk to them, those medical bills can be small or very large and they are having difficulty obtaining financial support from the Department on that. They are also looking for assault leave. The trauma experienced by many of these SNAs when the injuries occur take a long time to get over and they find it very hard to go back into classrooms, etc. This is something they are looking for. The third call by SNAs is to establish a comprehensive support system for those who have experienced the trauma and physical injuries right throughout the State. It is something we should all include in our manifestos. It is a call for the wonderful work that our SNAs do day in and day out but unfortunately, they are on the front line and are experiencing that trauma through injury, etc. As I have said, it is something we will all get on the doors and it is a campaign I support. We can all add our voice to this.

I will finish by speaking on the Croí Cónaithe grants. This is not the first time I have raised this matter.I have welcomed the scheme a number of times in this House but I continue to have problems with staged payments and the drawdown of the grants. Something needs to be done about that. I have at least five cases in Kildare South at the moment where people just cannot complete the work. They cannot get the €50,000 grant. They do not have the €50,000 to pay the builders, and the builders are continuing, as is their right, to demand the money upfront. The applicants have gone to credit unions with letters from the local authority and the credit unions say they cannot sustain them either. We have looked for staged payments, and I know colleagues on the far side of the House have done so as well. The Government needs to look at this. It is a great grant but it is just falling down on the drawdown. I would welcome the Leader's input on that.