I listened to the Taoiseach today. It was probably the most out of touch response I have heard. I was absolutely shocked. I got an email today that really encapsulates how all of this feels. I am writing as a parent of a child attending Pelletstown Educate Together National School and as a member of the wider community. My daughter is autistic and attends a mainstream class in our school. She thrives in an inclusive environment but she requires daily access to an SNA's support for her well-being, emotional regulation and participation in school life. This support is not a luxury. It is essential to her ability to access education safely and meaningfully. Her SNA provides crucial assistance with transitions, managing sensory overwhelm, communication support and helping her remain regulated enough to engage in learning. Without this consistent support she would struggle significantly in the classroom environment and her confidence, independence and overall well-being would be negatively affected. The presence of an SNA allows her not only to learn but to feel secure, included and valued amongst her peers. The SNA plays a vital role in enabling children with additional care needs to access their right to education on an equal basis with their classmates. They also ensure that teachers can focus on teaching while students with additional needs receive the appropriate care and support required throughout the day. For families like ours, appropriate SNA supports are the difference between a child merely attending school and a child truly flourishing within it. The next sentence is the crux of the issue. We are seeing attempts to limit supports to children and young people in our schools. Our school has seen increasing complexity and needs over the years. All schools have seen increasing numbers of students with increasing additional needs and you have attempted to cut and move SNAs using an extremely limited set of criteria rather than give every child the chance of attaining the highest level of education and space to enjoy their school experience. Last night we heard 1,100 students and parents and we will continue to fight with them and to fight for all children who deserve the best education that we as legislators can provide them with.

Sentiment score: 0.28