This Government's treatment of SNAs has caused huge anger because the SNAs are already working hard day in, day out, alongside teachers to plaster over the cracks of a school system under pressure. SNAs are crucial, not just to the children with additional needs but to all the children in the classroom. What these workers, school communities, children and families have been put through is utterly and absolutely disgraceful. My colleagues are absolutely right that an apology is demanded and deserved. All children, especially children with special needs, require routine and structure. They need predictability. With this Government's mistreatment of these children, it has ripped away that consistency, routine, structure and predictability. The greatest predictor of success in later life is independence with the activities of daily living. This is where SNAs play a key role. Nowhere in all this debacle and crisis that the Government created was the children's voices heard. As Teachta Ní Raghallaigh mentioned, we have seen 1,100 SNAs, educators and parents come together pouring out their hearts story after story about the hurt, anger and frustration at what the Government has done. It is has rightly done a U-turn on this issue but it has still left a serious question mark over what comes next. What parents and schools are asking for is the most basic of respect. Pausing these cuts until September, when there will be another review, is not enough. The Ministers still left this threat hanging over schools. No parent, child, SNA or teacher knows what is coming next. If the review is still to be based on primary medical needs, we will be back at square one. This is why we need a comprehensive response that takes cuts off the table and ensures that every child with additional needs has the support of an SNA, whether this year, next year or the year after.

Sentiment score: -0.05

The Minister is far from listening with that speech.

Sentiment score: 0.00