I wish to discuss the NCSE’s new guideline review. In the last three days, my office has been inundated with emails and the telephone lines have been choked by calls from concerned parents, principals and SNAs. The guidelines have actually sowed confusion among the school community and among parents. As a parent myself, I consider it a huge privilege to be able to give my son the best education and to meet his needs how and where possible so when I get concerns from other parents, SNAs, teachers and principals on the education they will be able to give their children and pupils and their concerns about meeting the needs of the pupils and their sons and daughters, I am sure the Minister of State will agree, it is a huge concern to us all. I accept that very often, circulars and guidelines can be misread, misconstrued or interpreted in one way or another. I am here asking for clarity about these guidelines. The query, first and foremost, we have received is whether this will result in job insecurity for SNAs. Will the care for those daughters and sons who are currently receiving it be diminished in any sense? Is there a risk that their child in the school setting will no longer receive care? There are indications in people’s interpretation of these guidelines that the criteria will be stricter and it will be harder to access an SNA. That is hugely concerning for any parent. I would welcome any clarity on the issue.

Sentiment score: 0.15

I thank the Minister of State for the reply. I hope it reassures principals, teachers, SNAs and, in particular, parents, because this has been an issue, as the Minister of State said, which has worried hundreds if not thousands of people across the country. I am particularly thankful that the NCSE will be contacting schools in the coming days to clarify the position because, while I appreciate the reply, I am not sure how many people are tuned into Oireachtas TV. Despite our best efforts to reply to everybody, literally hearing it from the horse's mouth would have more value than anything else. While I am still on my feet, I would like to advocate for early intervention. The earlier we can get care and assistance to our children the less need they will have for it later. We really have to focus on a model of early intervention. If we do not, the expense and need will continue to grow. I ask that the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Moynihan, take this on board, particularly in the context of the upcoming budget.

Sentiment score: 0.25