Mike Kennelly (Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister of State and welcome the statement in response from the Minister that he read out. He said the protection of our children is ultimately the priority for everyone in the school network.

We are not giving the authority to the SNAs.There is a process in the child protection procedures for schools. People go to the DLPs, the teachers and the SNAs, but it is a matter of responsibility that when the SNAs report issues like this they are recognised as mandated persons. They are not yet at this stage. I ask the Minister of State to go back and look at this again because, as I said, they are our front-line people for these children who attend school. They may not get the same attention at home and there could be something that cannot be seen or heard by teachers or other people. Only the SNAs who deal with these children every day of the week can have this brought to their attention. I would really like to have them on that list.