The Government's plan to take away special needs assistants from vulnerable children was met with massive public anger. Last night, we held a public meeting against the Government's proposed SNA cuts and more than 1,000 people turned up - parents, SNAs and teachers all calling out Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael for their cruel treatment of children. They are now determined to fight back against this, tooth and nail. Last week, in the face of this anger, the Government announced that it had called a pause to its plan to cut SNAs and late last night, it announced what amounts to an extension of that pause, acting only to buy itself time and alleviate pressure on the Government. Of course, there is relief among parents and schools that there will be no cuts this September and that much-needed additional funding will be provided, but that is not the end of the story because parents see right through the Government's ploy. They know that the Government has simply kicked the can down the road for another year. They know that the Government's approach is a cynical bean-counting exercise and that the needs of children do not even come into it, which is shameful. Parents and schools now demand fundamental change. They demand that the Government recognise, respect and value the full role of SNAs. By seeking to restrict the allocation of SNAs to a very narrow range of primary care needs like toileting and medicine, the Government is knowingly seeking to limit access to SNAs and to pull the rug from under children who desperately need support. The Government needs to accept that learning, emotional and behavioural difficulties are also primary care needs. This is the support SNAs provide day in and day out. Despite the Government's announcement last night, its threat to cut SNAs remains on the table. This is a tactical retreat, not a change of heart. The stories shared with us at last night's meeting were utterly heart-breaking. One mother speaking through her tears said, "How dare the Government even consider pulling SNA support from our children?" Another said, "I'd like the Minister to come to my home even for one day to see what it's like when a child doesn't get the SNA support they need - the frustration, the helplessness, the anger." Parents, SNAs and teachers have all said that the Government has crossed a line here. They do not want an extended pause; they want these cuts taken off the table for now and for the future. They want to know that no child will lose the SNA he or she depends on and they want the Government to deliver a comprehensive response to the needs of their children. They want respect. Caithfidh an Rialtas fáil réidh lena phlean ciaradh a dhéanamh ar chúntóirí riachtanas speisialta. Ní sos atá ag teastáil, nó é a bheith curtha ar an méar fhada, ach scrios iomlán ar an bplean. Ní mór don Rialtas a chinntiú go bhfaigheann gach leanbh le sainriachtanais an tacaíocht atá ag teastáil uathu. Comments today from Ministers have only added to the anger of parents and SNAs. Ministers lined up to say it was a communications, sequencing or cliff-edge problem. They are incapable still of accepting the Government's plan was wrong. It was wrong to treat children this way. Can the Taoiseach accept that a new departure is needed, not a temporary pause, but a child-centred approach, built on respect, security for SNAs and an end to the constant stress and worry endured by parents?
Sentiment score: -0.07
What the Taoiseach has given us is a demonstration of a complete unwillingness to accept realities on the ground. In fact, I would say his response was gaslighting parents and SNAs.
Sentiment score: 0.23
The Taoiseach needs to know that those parents, children and young people who rely on their SNA to participate in school life and learning, to stay at school, to build confidence, esteem and relationships and who require behavioural regulation need to have the security of the SNA. They cannot live on a wing and a prayer from year to year, hoping against hope that the SNA is not taken away. The Government attempted to remove SNAs from schools. That is what it attempted to do. Parents and SNAs have fought back and they are telling the Government now very clearly that there needs to be a new departure and it needs to accept in full the role of SNAs.
Sentiment score: 0.38
It needs to accept the reliance of children and young people to function and to operate-----
Sentiment score: 0.38
-----within the system on those SNAs. It needs to announce not a pause-----
Sentiment score: 0.00
-----or a review of a review but a complete reversal of this disgraceful policy.
Sentiment score: 0.00
Wow.
Sentiment score: 0.59
Wow. The Taoiseach is arrogant.
Sentiment score: 0.05
He is an arrogant man.
Sentiment score: -0.49
The Taoiseach is one arrogant man.
Sentiment score: -0.49
Oh, it is.
Sentiment score: 0.00
I am sure parents are watching this to see the Taoiseach's arrogance-----
Sentiment score: 0.32