Sarah O'Reilly (Aontú)

I am concerned regarding the recent published special needs assistant, SNA, review process guidelines by the National Council for Special Education, NCSE. Reading through the document, it feels like the focus is all wrong. Like many parents and teachers, I was disappointed to see an emphasis on limiting supports instead of increasing them. I have been contacted by a lot of people who are so frustrated seeing the needs of our children constantly put on the back burner. There is no point in talking about prioritising children and additional educational needs and then supporting guidelines that pull back that support. These new guidelines propose a narrowing of criteria, the unification of mainstream and special class allocations and a restrictive definition of "complex needs". I ask the Minister to please listen to parents and teachers and put a pause on these guidelines until there is proper consultation. I ask her to come into this Chamber for a debate on the issue. We need to amplify the voices of SNAs, schools and parents. We cannot allow educational guidelines to be implemented that do not tend to the needs of children or prioritise their welfare. I would appreciate if the Minister will engage with these concerns and pay attention to those directly working with children.