91. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware of the increasing pressure on schools due to the growing number of students requiring additional care and educational supports; whether her Department is satisfied that current special needs assistant allocations are meeting the needs of students and schools; the steps being taken to increase the number of SNAs available, particularly in schools experiencing significant demand; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40810/26]
Sentiment score: 0.31
Tá mé ag iarraidh ceist a chur ar an Aire Stáit faoin bhrú atá ar scoileanna i dtuaisceart Bhaile Átha Cliath. Is the Department satisfied that the current special needs assistant allocations meet the needs of students? There are a lot of schools I could mention that have been on to me, but in the context of this main question I will mention the Stapolin Education Together National School. Also, Gaelscoil Ghráinne Mhaol is operating with one special needs assistant. What is the DEIS status of St. Joseph's in Fairview? Parents have other children, brothers and sisters, in another school that has DEIS plus status and yet that school does not have it. What is the DEIS plus status of St. Francis Junior School in Dublin 17? I know there is a lot there so we can go back and forth.
Sentiment score: 0.13
The Minister of State will be aware that I will always mention the schools in north Dublin to him. With regard to St. Francis Junior School, it had 165 registered instead of 166. In this school 40% of the current students are from the Traveller community. They cannot lose a mainstream teacher. It will put extreme pressure on them. The Minister of State will be aware, because I am always bringing it up, that the Stapolin Educate Together school needs to have that modular building sanctioned. It has the ability to do brilliant things. I thank the Minister for Education and Youth, Deputy Naughton, for her response to the parliamentary question today relating to Gaelcholáiste Reachrann. The addition of those two special educational needs classes is needed. It is great that the data has been shown in that area, and the parents are happy, but I would love to see that school moving forward. The response to the parliamentary question said that it would be moving and progressed. The current SNA review for Gaelscoil Ghráinne Mhaol took place more than five months ago yet the school has received no formal communication of the outcome. In the meantime, staff are being left to manage impossible circumstances with one SNA.
Sentiment score: 0.16
Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit. Tá mé an-sásta é sin a chloisteáil. Tá na ceithre scoil sin an-tábhachtach. Bím i gcónaí ag cur ceisteanna parlaiminte agus ríomhphost chuig oifig an Aire Stáit, ach ní bhíonn na freagraí sásúil. Níl siad maith go leor. The parents are exhausted from having to battle continuously for assessments, classroom space and SNAs. I welcome the addition of many SNA posts and additional classrooms but these schools need to be looked at and their DEIS status needs to be examined. Every child in north Dublin deserves these schools. They need the support as it will affect their development and their future opportunities. I am calling on the Minister of State to urgently engage with all of the schools I mentioned today. The staffing and the infrastructure required needs to be delivered without further delay. The children of north Dublin and across Ireland deserve and are entitled to better. I appreciate the engagement that the Minister of State has given so far and I welcome that he has visited these schools, particularly St. Michael's House in Baldoyle. They were very grateful for the Minister of State's visit, and for the compassion and information he gave to them, along with the understanding of it. I really welcome the work the Minister of State will do with all of the Dublin Bay North TDs on that matter.
Sentiment score: 0.16