Labour accuses Government of causing 'fear and distress' as SNA review dominates Dáil debate

Also, anger is continuing to grow in Fianna Fáil, with the issue dominating its parliamentary party meeting this week

On Wednesday, during Leaders' Questions, Labour leader Ivana Bacik said:'“A pause is not a plan, and we need clarity on what happens next.' File photo Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland

The controversial special needs assistant (SNA) review has dominated Dáil proceedings, with Labour accusing the Government of causing “fear and distress” by managing the allocations in a “crude” manner.

The review of SNA allocations was swiftly paused following a massive backlash from schools this week, after the first cohort across the country learned of plans to reduce numbers following reviews by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).

On Wednesday, during Leaders' Questions, Labour leader Ivana Bacik said: “A pause is not a plan, and we need clarity on what happens next.

“Any change in the allocation process must be phased in, and new supports must be put in place before existing lifelines are taken away.

“Instead, the Department of Education's way, it seems, is to strip supports before new ones exist while children are still waiting years for assessments.” 

Ms Bacik argued that when an “SNA is removed from a mainstream classroom, a child suffers”.

In response, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the Government is increasing the funding for SNA posts and that the “issue” focuses on the deployment of SNAs.

“Needs have increased. Challenges have increased in our schools also,” he said. “There should be regular reviews always to make sure that we're targeting the children most in need and children most in need get the optimal services.

“Reviews can work both ways because of changing need. A lot of schools get increases when those reviews [are conducted].

“The mistake made here is that there hasn't been a comprehensive review for quite a number of years. The NCSE, in endeavouring to correct that in one year, in my view, is not the correct approach.”

Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns said the review of SNA allocations needs to focus on more than children’s physical disabilities and must consider sensory needs, difficulties with emotion regulation, and other complex needs that children may have.

“Instead of doing what needs to be done to achieve that, instead of improving pay conditions, instead of professionalising their role, instead of including more secondary care needs in their contracts, this government has reduced this essential support down to numbers on a spreadsheet,” she said.

Fianna Fáil anger

Meanwhile, anger is continuing to grow in Fianna Fáil, with the issue dominating its parliamentary party meeting this week. 

One TD said the main issue was communication, and complaints must be laid at the door of the NCSE. They questioned whether Ms Naughton was taken aback by the backlash and was ultimately “forced” into a “U-turn”.

However, Fianna Fáil TDs were also angry about the lack of information about what the review will entail, how long it will take, and the lack of engagement with schools.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Education said it has "listened carefully to all of the issues raised by parents and school communities in recent days and are engaging intensively to ensure that all of the concerns raised are really understood and children with special educational needs are fully supported".