Last night, I attended a meeting of well over 1,000 people. They were SNAs, parents and students. I listened to heartbreaking stories of fear and anxiety but I also heard stories of hope, of children who flourished, found their voice, were full of confidence because they had the support of a special needs assistant by their side. Today, after a brutal decision to cut SNAs, the Minister comes in here talking about no cuts and an extended pause. That is not compassion; that is a rowing back because of the public backlash. The very fact she even contemplated cutting this vital service in the first place tells families everything they need to know about where vulnerable children rank in her priorities. They are people. They are not just a diagnosis. SNAs have said they face job insecurity every year. I have been contacted by schools, teachers, SNAs and students across Clare. They are shocked and angry, and rightly so. The SNA service should be used as a tool to empower children. Who does the Minister thinks builds relationships in classrooms? Who helps regulate and support children so that entire classes can function and learn? It is SNAs. They are not an optional extra; they are essential. Children with additional needs deserve respect and dignity. These are two simple words that have life-changing impacts. Instead, what we have seen is disrespect. It is disrespect to students and to SNAs and an immense strain has been put on parents who already fight every single day for their children. We face a shortage of special class places, growing waiting lists, children without appropriate placements and, at the same time, announcements of new classes where there is uncertainty about the infrastructure to properly support them. That makes no sense. The true measure of any society is how it treats its most vulnerable. On this issue, the Government is failing that test. We know the value of SNAs. Families know the value of SNAs. The question is whether the Minister does. We need to protect SNAs, protect the rights and dignity of our children, parents, pupils and SNAs and schools need to see action, not big announcements when there are still not enough SNAs out there.

Sentiment score: 0.01

Bad tone.

Sentiment score: -0.54