I make the point again that the whole fiasco in relation to SNAs was symptomatic of a wider attitude. An awful lot of SNAs and parents viewed it as the Department and the Government trying to pull a fast one, failing to recognise the manner in which the role of the SNAs has changed, even though it was apparent to everyone. It was entirely obvious to anyone who took the time to examine what an SNA how much the role has changed and how much more complex it is now, with the huge responsibilities they have now. The Government was trying to change the goalposts and doing things back to front, instead of evaluating correctly the current role. That is symptomatic. So much of this is back to front. I want to take the opportunity to mention once again, and I know the Minister of State will be particularly aware of it, the issue in relation to Carrigaline special school. I welcome the additional resources but more is needed, particularly in terms of the multidisciplinary piece. Like my colleagues, I think many issues need to be addressed. The issues with therapies are enormous. The waiting lists are getting bigger and bigger and the CDNTs are absolutely buckling under pressure, in Cork particularly but also across the State. I know there are excellent, very committed therapists in all of them but they are under incredible pressure to try to keep up. We are here yet again debating the issue of school places. I do not know how it is, the way it has been an annual occurrence every April, May and June that we have debates of this nature instead of it being resolved at the start of the year. It is totally unfair on parents who are trying to figure out what is happening in September. I will give one example of a girl, Tessa. I was speaking to her mother Jenna earlier. They have applied to eight schools, all of which refused or added her to waiting lists. They have since applied for three more. Her daughter is a flight risk and she is non-verbal. She is a single mother with two other children. She is under huge pressure and stress, trying to understand where her child is going to be. She is already in the system. She is in Sonas, a special education early years facility. She has two other children. She made the point to me that if they were missing for 20 days from school, she would be put under pressure but the State is not holding up its responsibility.

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