Special needs in schools: textbook case of an Irish solution to an Irish problem

EDUCATION Minister Batt O’Keeffe has come in for a lot of criticism regarding cuts in special needs assistants (SNAs). Following the strict criteria set out for SNAs, the minister has maintained that “any child who needs a special needs assistant will get one”.

Parents of children who are losing an SNA are angry and obviously very aware of the many benefits of having one for their child.

Many of these benfits do not fall within the criteria/job description of an SNA – a situation known to everyone but officially ignored.