Darren O'Rourke
Meath East · Sinn Féin · Ireland
“It is a statement of fact that in recent years we have seen a reduced number of classroom teachers. Budget 2026 led to the removal of 498 classroom teachers, a net reduction of 381 when one looks at the gains. The year 2025-26 saw a reduction of 290 and 2024-25 a reduction of 237. That has a real impact.”
“It has created duplication, inefficiency and a barrier to our natural prosperity. It has left the North underfunded by Westminster’s austerity and battered by the chaos of Brexit while the South has suffered from a fractured market and a divided island. We are both less than we could be. Irish unity is not a burden; it is an investment.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak on statements on the fiscal implications of Irish unity. We hear people tell us Irish unity is a cost we cannot afford but the truth of the matter is partition is the cost we have already paid for for a century and more, and it is a price that is too high.”
“I thank the Minister. She said from November that 97% of posts were filled. In real terms at the same time, 996 teaching posts were unfilled, which is almost 1,000. Figures as recent as last week tell us that over 39,000 primary school students were in classes of 30 pupils or more in the past school year.”
“Again, we have those figures from a briefing we had with the Department as recently as yesterday. It is all welcome progress but the question I am asking today is what is the unmet need as things stand? How many children do not have an offer of a school place?”
“I wish the staff and the Minister all the best for the summer. I know it will be a busy summer but I hope that everyone gets a break. I ask the Minister to state the number of children with additional needs who require but have yet to receive an offer of an appropriate school place for September 2026, based on her most recent meeting with…”
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“I thank the Minister of State for the clarification on the timelines. One of the sports that has suffered over the years is swimming, particularly in the context of underinvestment in infrastructure and swimming pools. We previously discussed the gap analysis that was prepared and funded by the Department. One of the issues raised in that report was about the model for delivery. We have been talking about the clubs applying, but, of course, that does not deliver swimming pools. Swim Ireland had talked about an alternative hybrid model. In the past it would have been done by local authorities. Has the Minister of State met with Swim Ireland to discuss alternative methods for delivering and running swimming pools?”
“Will the Minister of State indicate when we might see this? Will it be in quarter 2, quarter 3 or quarter 4? I welcome the fact that the application process will be simplified. There is a direct correlation between those accessing this funding and the capacity within the organisations involved, even at club level, in the context of completing the forms. There is a barrier that needs to be to be addressed. The Minister of State indicated that a review is coming. What does he mean by that, particularly in the context of targeting sports that have been the subject of underinvestment over the years? Every sport feels that it could do with more investment.”
“Ní féidir tithíocht a sholáthar gan seirbhísí a bheith ann. Caithfear maoiniú d'Údarás na Gaeltachta a ardú go suntasach. Ní féidir leis an Rialtas cluas bhodhar a thabhairt don tsaincheist seo níos mó. Tá beart ag teastáil go práinneach chun an Ghaeltacht a shábháil.”
“Caithfimid pleanáil teanga a dhéanamh mar chuid lárnach de reachtaíocht pleanála lena chinntiú go gcuirtear tithíocht ar leataobh do theaghlaigh lánGhaeilge. Ciallaíonn sé sin measúnuithe tionchar teanga a dhéanamh maidir le gach forbairt nua agus coinníollacha teanga a chur leo. Caithfimid caighdeán soiléir a shocrú, leibhéal B2 de TEG, mar chaighdeán náisiúnta inniúlachta i gcomhair na gcoinníollacha teanga seo chun go mbeidh siad éifeachtach. Caithfimid fadhb easpa inacmhainneachta na dtithe sa Ghaeltacht a réiteach. Caithfimid tithe sóisialta agus inacmhainne a sholáthar a bheadh curtha ar leataobh do Ghaeilgeoirí. Ag an am céanna, caithfear machnamh a dhéanamh ar réadmhaoin a cheannach ag an Stát lena chinntiú go bhfanfar i seilbh an phobail í. Caithfimid infheistíocht a dhéanamh i mbonneagar chomh maith.”
“Is pócaí lánGhaeilge faoi leith i gContae na Mí iad seo agus tá siad faoi bhrú ollmhór. Nuair a chuirtear teach ar díol, is minic nach bhfuil sé d'acmhainn ag Gaeilgeoirí áitiúla an praghas iarrtha a íoc. Ag an am céanna, ní thugtar cead pleanála dóibh chun teach atá ar a n-acmhainn a thógáil ar talamh teaghlaigh. Is pianbhreith bháis don Ghaeilge polasaithe áiféiseacha mar seo sna pobail sin. Tá plean ag Sinn Féin é seo a dheisiú. Ar dtús, caithfimid an scéim deontais do thithíocht Ghaeltachta a thabhairt ar ais. Caithfimid ráiteas pleanála náisiúnta don Ghaeltacht, lena n-aithnítear patrúin lonnaíochta agus riachtanais teangeolaíochta na gceantar seo, a fhoilsiú agus a chur i bhfeidhm le práinn.”
“There is specifically a service for these purposes. I am sure he is aware of it and can avail of it. I would be useful if he could clarify in his closing statement because these are important matters. Fáiltím roimh an deis labhairt ar an topaic fíorthábhachtach seo, tithíocht inár bpobail Ghaeltachta ó Dhún na nGall go Corcaigh, cósta Chonamara agus Gaeltachta na Mí, is é sin, Ráth Chairn agus Baile Ghib. Ní féidir le teaghlaigh áitiúla, a chothaigh an teanga leis na glúnta, tithe a cheannach, a thógáil ná a thógáil ar cíos ina bpobail féin. Ina ionad sin, feicimid borradh tithe saoire, tithe ar cíos go gearrthéarmach, agus bíonn ar lánúineacha óga dul ar imirce. Is iomarcach praghsanna na dtithe ina bpobail féin dár nGaeilgeoirí. I Ráth Chairn agus Baile Ghib, is lofa arís scéal na dtithíochta.”
“As we advance this legislation, it will be really important that the Government commits to genuine, ongoing engagement with those that this transition is meant to serve.”
“Committees and families were appointed by the High Court, yet they feel that once the transition is finalised, they will have no voice. That has been relayed to me and others. These are important points and I ask that the Minister of State take them onboard. Similar to the points made by University of Galway is the NDA report, which the Minister of State will be familiar with, named The Journey from Wardship to Supported Decision-Making. It calls for more in-person sessions, clear guidance and properly resourced agencies. It calls for legislative action, but at the heart of it is a call for partnership. We should all be able to agree that the success of this reform will be measured by whether people feel heard, respected and empowered and whether families feel supported and not abandoned.”
“Large funds are being deposited into bank accounts across the State with no real support to manage them. The Government can and should step in, and provide a resource, a help-line, guidance or support. Currently, for example, all State savings have a maximum investment ceiling. Some will face managing funds exceeding those limits with no guarantee of equivalent security. An exemption from these maxima for former wards' funds would relieve anxiety for families managing vulnerable relatives' money. This is something, for example, that could be considered. It is a complex area and all options should be considered. Related to that is the call for an information hub on investments and assessments and on how wills and the fair deal scheme should be navigated. These issues really matter.”
“Families need clarity, consistency and a process that respects the complexity of individual capacity. I ask that the Minister of State engage on this. Investments and financial management are an important issue and must be addressed. There is a clear call to ensure that the transfer of wards of court decision to the Decision Support Service does not result in continued substitute decision-making, that the persons with disabilities and their families are consulted on the transfer, and importantly that safeguards are in place to protect the property and finances of discharged wards. Related to that, it is important there is an investigation and complaint mechanism to address investments previously made by funds and managed by the wards of courts system. Families are overwhelmed.”
“That has come up consistently from wards, committees, families, from University of Galway and from the NDA research itself. The new system is not just legal reform; it is a rights-based shift. Supported decision-making is supposed to be supporting with, not doing for. However, we all know the transition has been very slow. The Minister of State's figures show 391 people have been discharged, while over 1,000 remain. The barriers are very real. They include a fear of losing financial protection, confusion, a lack of information and anxiety about managing large funds without court support. There are a couple of important areas that I hear consistently from families, committees and wards themselves. One is assessments and investments. On assessments, there is the question of how a single day of assessment can be deemed sufficient.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill. I want to speak about the transition from wardship to supported decision-making, drawing on the recent research from the National Disability Authority, NDA, the analysis my colleagues mentioned from the Centre for Disability Law and Policy at University of Galway and conversations I have had with concerned families, committees and wards themselves. I want to focus on two of the five points my colleagues mentioned from the Centre for Disability Law and Policy in Galway. One stated that there are no plans in place to tackle root causes that have led to court backlog. That should be of significant note for the Minister of State. The other point was that, importantly, there has been a lack of meaningful engagement with those most impacted, namely, wards and families.”
“I want to focus on the mental and physical health dimensions of the well-being framework and return to the issue of special class places for September 2026. We heard at the public accounts committee last week that the Department of education, and I presume the Minister, intend to bring a memo to Cabinet imminently in relation to meeting the unmet need for special classes. The Taoiseach might let us know if he expects that to be about funding. What does it mean for SNA places? There will be hugely increased demand for SNAs, which was not part of the conversation last week, and we know an additional supplementary budget is coming for those.”
“How many children have been notified to the NCSE as needing a special class or school place for September 2026? We now know 351 special classes have been sanctioned. What is the shortfall? It has been reported as being in the region of 1,000 children and 250 extra classes. Can the Taoiseach give a commitment that the necessary places, special education teachers, SNAs and school buildings will be in place for September?”
“The report tells us that we need strong independent governance, robust regulation and genuine public engagement. I thank everyone who contributed to the report.”
“We heard how AI can perpetuate discrimination against the Traveller community, for example, how it can isolate older people and how it risks making inaccessible public services even more out of reach for people with disabilities, but we also heard about the potential AI that can assist with independent living, support inclusive education and break down communication barriers. The recommendations, therefore, for equality by design, for involving marginalised groups from the very start of product development and for establishing advisory panels of young people, older people and disabled people within the national AI office are not just about being fair; they are about being effective and inclusive. A system designed by and for everyone will work better for everyone.”
“In this block of work, we heard from a range of voices in relation to participation and the need for engagement. AI is not a force of nature. It is a tool. We have the power to shape it, but we can only shape it well if we listen to those who will be most affected by it. The report's call for a citizens' assembly on artificial intelligence and digitalisation is an important one. We need a national conversation. We need to move beyond the echo chambers of experts and bring this discussion into every living room in Ireland. The structured engagement with young people, older people and disabled people, not as an afterthought but as a core part of the committee's initial inquiry, set a powerful example in relation to this. Their testimony, detailed so clearly in this report, exposes the real world biases and barriers that already exist.”
“The right to access our data, the right to rectification and the right to erasure must apply whether a decision is made by a human or an algorithm, and I strongly agree that creators must be protected. Creator content should not be used to train commercial AI models without their consent and fair compensation. I am concerned, as the committee is, about the role of AI-driven recommender systems in pushing harmful and hateful content and I note the Minister of State's comments. The recommendation that these systems be switched off by default, especially for children, is a commonsense child-centred approach and I fully endorse it. We cannot allow profit-driven algorithms to undermine the mental health and safety of our young people. I commend the committee for placing engagement and inclusion at the heart of its work.”
“We should treat it as a minimum baseline, not a maximum standard. That is crucial. I share the concerns that Deputy Gibney raised. It is an issue we discussed at the committee after this report. The omnibus and the simplification agenda are important. I hear the arguments from the Government. It is that piece around striking the balance. We have to navigate it very careful. There will always be commercial pressure to put innovation before protection but this report recognises the wisdom we learned from GDPR. Good regulation does not stifle innovation. It frames it. It provides the guardrails that allow businesses to innovate safely and give citizens the confidence to trust and adopt new technologies. The emphasis on applying existing laws, such as GDPR and copyright law, to AI is also vital. We do not need to reinvent the wheel here.”
“The recommendation for a national AI risk register is a practical and necessary tool. We cannot mitigate risks we have not identified. We must know where the systemic dangers lie in our infrastructure, our labour market, as I say, and our social fabric before we can protect against them. We must support our regulators. The nine authorities tasked with safeguarding our fundamental rights under the EU AI Act cannot do this important work on a shoestring budget. If we ask them to protect citizens from AI-driven discrimination or harm, we must give them the human and financial resources to do so. Second, on regulation, the report sends a strong and welcome signal regarding the EU AI Act. The committee states unequivocally that Ireland must not shy away from the Act or try to dilute it.”
“To be effective, it must have true independence and the technical expertise to navigate the complex conflicts that will inevitably arise between supporting industry, deploying AI in our own public services and enforcing robust regulations. I welcome the Minister of State's commitment in relation to the two observatories - the national skills observatory and the observatory for business AI readiness, OBAIR. I would be interested to hear more detail in relation to them and the division of labour. It is important that there is an analysis in terms of the impact of AI on jobs and on labour. There should be a particular focus on the impact of AI on youth unemployment, which is increasing at three times the rate of that in the general population. There is important work to be done there.”
“In my comments, I will focus on three pillars that, I believe, are the foundation of a successful national AI strategy: governance, regulation and meaningful engagement. First, on governance, the report correctly identifies that the status quo is not an option. AI does not respect departmental silos and it cannot be managed by a piecemeal approach. The recommendation to establish the joint committee on a permanent basis is a wise one. This technology will be with us for decades and it demands sustained, dedicated oversight. I particularly welcome the call for an immediate co-ordinated all-of-Government approach led by a well-resourced national AI office. The committee has wisely stressed that this office must not be just another Government body.”
“I am pleased to be here today to respond to the First Interim Report of the Joint Committee on Artificial Intelligence. I thank the Minister of State for being here. I thank the Cathaoirleach, Deputy Malcolm Byrne, and all the members of the committee and the secretariat and the witnesses who helped to shape and inform and prepare the report. It is a significant milestone. It represents a cross-party collaborative effort to understand not only the technicalities of AI, but its real-world impact on the people of Ireland, from our youngest citizens to our oldest and across every community, including those who are too often left out of the conversation. I welcome this report and commend its findings. It is a cross-party collaborative effort.”
“We can control what we can control in relation to this and we will be persistent in pursuing it and making sure, as best we can from the Opposition benches, we hit those deadlines. The big question then is around taking it beyond planning and to construction. Will the Minister outline how the Navan rail project best positions itself as a priority project in the midst of a range of other funding demands on the Department and the Minister? How can the project compete to ensure it can move quickly and uninterruptedly to construction?”
“I make no apology for being obsessed with this project. It is just such a potential game changer for the county on so many different levels. It is hugely important socially, culturally, economically and environmentally. It would be transformative and I welcome the fact it is now back on the agenda and back in the plans and there are euro beside it. I am concerned there will be slippage at every juncture, and there has been slippage in relation to it. As I said, in October, we said early 2006. Is the Minister confident that by the end of quarter 2, we will be able to go to consultation? I can say without a shadow of a doubt there will be huge interest, regardless of the time of year this goes to consultation. There have already been a huge number of submissions in relation to this project. There is huge interest in it.”
“On what date will the public consultation take place on the route options and emerging preferred route for the Navan rail project? A commitment was given at the end of last year that it would happen early in 2026.”
“I appreciate all of that complexity. We heard at the Oireachtas committee that it is sometimes at the request of parents or the children, in that the food is of a different standard or there is a lack of variety. Two other important points were raised with us at the education committee which are relevant to the Minister. He mentioned one of those earlier, which is in the area of school holidays. Specifically, a point made by principals, Eoghan O’Byrne and Conor McCarthy, when they came in to us was around the continuation, that is, of the hot school meal for the school term but not outside of that. There was a separate point regarding the administrative cost of the scheme. Schools, and particularly principals, are looking for support on that. Is that something the Minister will consider?”
“I agree 100% with the Minister's final point. I want to focus specifically on the issue of quality. The Minister stated that on the basis of the initial desktop analysis, 66% of meals met 60% of the standard. That is not good by any measure. If you were to give it a grade that is probably a C or below. It is of concern because there is a huge public spend on this. I have heard how the Minister will analyse this. How will he influence this and ensure quality? He stated that in the context of fatty and sugary content, he issued instructions and there was 80% compliance. How will he ensure that when we have this analysis, he actually influences what is happening on the ground?”
“Sinn Féin and I strongly support the hot school meals programme. Anyone who has any doubts about it should speak to the principals of DEIS or DEIS plus schools. Incredibly compelling evidence was presented at a recent meeting of the education committee. The scheme is not perfect. One of the areas in respect of which there are concerns is food quality. What is the Minister doing to analyse and improve that?”
“We need to see action on the part of the Government in the context of ensuring that the commitments which have been made are delivered. Once again, comhghairdeas libh. You should be incredibly proud of yourselves. I am inspired by you.”
“You have done that. It should not have taken your hunger strike, but your resilience and determination have been an absolute inspiration. You stuck it out and brought the Government to this position. You should be incredibly proud of yourselves. Your families should be incredibly proud of you, as should the whole of Ireland. It is an inspiration. We met and talked. You were incredibly tenacious. You did not let us or the Government away with anything. There are commitments here from the Government. We need to see them realised. This is a wrong that has to be righted. I know you will, as will we, pursue it to make sure that you get exactly what has been committed to. As I said, what you have done is very inspirational. This relates to a very dark period in Irish history. Lessons have to be learnt.”
“Today's apology is historic, important and welcome. I acknowledge the survivors who have endured decades of harm, neglect and State failure. We are not dealing with an historic issue. It is very much live and present. It is the ongoing failure of the State to meet the basic needs of survivors of institutional abuse. I welcome the apology and the commitment in terms of supports. I encourage their being in place as quickly as possible, although it is already too late. I say to Mary, Mary, Miriam and Maurice, and people talk about stigma, that they are an inspiration. You have achieved something. Less than a year ago, I stood here, and our current President, Catherine Connolly, sat over there. We brought forward proposals and amendments in line with what they were looking for. We lost. We were unsuccessful. We did not deliver, but you did.”
“There has been real concern about the Government's response to the 2014 circular. It is out of date and needs to be completely overhauled. We have just come from a meeting of the education committee that discussed this precise topic. What did we hear from the Taoiseach yesterday? He said we have to be very careful about expanding the role of SNAs and we have to think about it long and hard. I have thought about it long and hard, as have SNAs and everybody working with children with disabilities. They live with it every single day and they know the 2014 circular must be overhauled. We need to recognise the roles that SNAs play and resource them and allocate them on that basis.”
“That is not a criticism of the NCSE; it is a criticism of the Minister and her predecessors. She has given the NCSE and the SENOs an impossible job. She has tied their hands. That is the issue that has to be resolved here. As was said so many times yesterday, we must trust schools. The point was made yesterday that the Minister trusts principals to allocate SNA resources within their schools but she does not trust them to tell her how many SNAs they need. That is the conundrum and contradiction in all of this. There needs to be a change of path. In all of her contributions, the Minister has not, for one second, shown humility and I have not heard a recognition of the hurt and pain this has caused. Nor have I heard that there will be a step change in the approach to all of this.”
“In agreeing to that motion, the Government agreed to abandon the disastrous 2025-26 review and reverse the cuts that have caused cruel uncertainty for families and the SNAs who dedicate their lives to supporting some of our most vulnerable children. There is one part of the motion that I want to focus on today because it goes to the heart of the dysfunction that we have seen. It called on the Government to "guarantee that no future changes to SNA provision will be made without meaningful, constructive, and transparent engagement with schools, parents, and SNAs themselves, ensuring their voices and expertise are central to decision-making". For far too long, decisions about our children's care have been made behind closed doors. A point was made that the NCSE is being unaccountable gatekeepers.”
“Sinn Féin is setting the yardstick in relation to that. When it comes to special needs assistants, there were 1,700 last year. Sinn Féin provided for 1,900. How many were there this year? There were 1,700 again this year. Sinn Féin provided for 1,850. Over the last couple of years, had Sinn Féin been in Government, we would have had hundreds more special needs assistants. I would like to correct the record of the Dáil in relation to that. Last night, the Dáil sent a unified and powerful message. We unanimously agreed on the need for urgent action to protect SNA provision and, more important, to protect the children who depend on it. We laid out a clear motion. The Minister and Minister of State agreed to it.”
“I welcome the opportunity to contribute to these statements. I want to correct the record of the Dáil. The Minister said that, by comparison, Sinn Féin's general election manifesto committed to providing an average of 1,000 SNAs per year. I think she was talking about special education teachers, not SNAs. When it comes to SNAs, the Minister has not provided 1,000 special education teachers-----”
“She said that, "To say that the Government is not funding resources for children with special educational needs is a mistruth." Less than 24 hours ago, this Government could not confirm that schools would not lose SNAs in September. SNAs for children who needed support were being cut for want of €19 million. To say that is a mistruth is very far from reality. The Minister is not opposing this motion tonight. Is it because she supports it? Is it because she is going to implement its proposals? Is it because she is ready for a reset? No, no and no. She is not opposing the motion because she does not want to be held accountable for her position in relation to this. There is a step-change on this issue. Communities, parents, SNAs and school communities are organised. They will, and we will, hold the Government to account.”
“I thank everyone who contributed to the debate. I want to pick up on a number of comments from the Minister in my closing remarks. I am deeply disappointed with both contributions. The senior Minister who has responsibility said in her comments that, "At the forefront of our deliberations was ensuring that the child-centred approach to the provision of special education is retained and enhanced in these policy developments." No one believes that. The Minister needs to talk to and listen to people. She said, "This Government has nothing but respect for SNAs, special education teachers, schools, students and their families." There was an audible laugh from the Gallery in relation to that. The Gallery is made up of SNAs and some teachers. The Minister needs to hear what is being said there.”
“We are here to ensure that every SNA knows that their work is valued, not by a press release but by a system that puts children first. I call on all TDs from every party to support this motion. Let us turn a reprieve into a reset. Let us turn momentum into lasting change.”
“We need a fair redeployment scheme that protects jobs, not one that creates uncertainty. We need a cast iron whole-of-government commitment that every single child with additional needs will get the support they require as a matter of right, not as a matter of administrative convenience. The motion before the Dáil offers this Government a chance to do more than just reverse course. It offers it a chance to get the policy right for once and for all. It offers a chance to reset the relationship with the SNA community, parents and schools. Tomorrow, protests across the State and outside the Dáil will go ahead. The momentum will continue beyond that. We are not here to accept a temporary reprieve. We are here to demand permanent change. We are here to ensure that every child with additional needs knows that we stand with them.”
“SNAs have been left in limbo, their professionalism disrespected, and their dedication thrown into question by a rigid bureaucratic process. The Government owes them more than an apology. It owes them a guarantee that this reckless approach will never again be repeated. Last night, Sinn Féin hosted an online meeting with 1,100 parents, SNAs, teachers, principals and people with disabilities. The anger and energy was palpable. Despite the Government's move, the momentum for change will not stop. It cannot stop. We need to see the circular from 2014 scrapped and replaced with a modern framework that recognises the full holistic role of a SNA, not just for primary care but for the emotional support, fostering of independence and social inclusion they provide.”
“It retreated because it knew that tomorrow thousands would take to the streets and tonight this House would hold it to account. We cannot allow a late-night rescue act to mask the fundamental truth. The system is still broken. The fundamental flaws and the hurt remain. The Government has offered a sticking plaster but let us look at what it has not done. For example, the outdated circular from 2014 - a rule book written 12 long years ago - is still on the books. The National Council for Special Education is still operating as an unaccountable gatekeeper. There is absolutely no guarantee whatsoever that this crisis will not repeat itself in 12 months' time. The anxiety and distress caused by this fiasco cannot be erased by a Government statement. Families across the State were left worrying about September.”
“I welcome the very many visitors to the Gallery. Today, we debate more than a motion. We debate the future of special education in this country. We send a clear message to the Government that its late-night press release will not stop the momentum for change. Last night, under immense pressure from parents, special needs assistants and 80,000 citizens who signed a petition, the Government performed an eleventh hour U-turn. It announced that there would be no SNA cuts in September and pledged an extra €19 million in funding. This reprieve is welcome for the schools, families and SNAs who have spent weeks in absolute turmoil but this a victory won by the people, not a change of heart by the Government. The Government did not wake up suddenly with a sudden conscious. It retreated because it was caught.”
“I move: That Dáil Éireann: notes that: — the invaluable work of Special Needs Assistants (SNAs), who provide essential care and support enabling students with additional needs to access education, is under unprecedented threat; — the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), acting under the restrictive and outdated "care model" criteria of Circular 0030/2014, has conducted reviews under Circular 0032/2025 that fundamentally fail to recognise the full, dynamic, and holistic role SNAs play in our schools; — of the 584 schools who have received the outcome of their reviews to date, 194 are facing devastating cuts to their SNA allocations, with some schools losing up to six posts, directly threatening the quality of education and care they can provide; — the long-standing policy of fostering greater inclusion, which had as its centrepiece the principle of supporting children to stay and thrive in mainstream education, is now being fundamentally reversed and the current removal of SNA supports will make it significantly more difficult, if not impossible, for many children with additional needs to remain in mainstream classes; — the NCSE is acting as an unaccountable gatekeeper to educational support, operating without transparency, and applying rigid criteria that disregard the complex and individualised needs of real children; — the Government's claimed "pause" on these reviews has proven to be a cruel illusion, offering no clarity, reassurance, or halt to the anxiety and confusion gripping school communities already notified of impending cuts; — SNA numbers remain insufficient to meet existing demand, a crisis compounded by a statewide shortage of appropriate school placements, leaving countless children without an appropriate school place to learn and thrive; — an online petition opposing these short-sighted SNA cuts has galvanised over 70,000 signatures, reflecting widespread public outrage and support for these frontline workers; — the failure to implement the promised SNA redeployment scheme has left dedicated SNAs, who have already been notified of job losses, facing an anxious and uncertain summer, unsure of their future employment and livelihood; and — this round of cuts is happening at a time when the new SNA Workforce Development Plan is under active negotiation; condemns the Government for: — inflicting profound distress and anxiety on vulnerable children, their families, and school communities through a rigid, clinical, and deeply flawed interpretation of care needs criteria, that reduces children to a checklist of tasks; — heartlessly removing SNA supports from students whose needs have not diminished, effectively pulling the rug from under children who rely on this support to feel safe, included, and able to participate in school life; — operating behind a veil of secrecy, by failing to publish the review criteria or provide any meaningful explanation for its devastating decisions, leaving schools and parents in the dark; — wilfully ignoring the full scope of the SNA role, which extends far beyond basic care to encompass fostering independence, providing emotional support, facilitating social inclusion, and acting as a crucial link between the child, the teacher, and the family; — applying Circular 0030/2014 in a manner that effectively strips SNA support from autistic and neurodivergent children, on the basis that their needs are not classified as "primary care needs", and by classifying these essential supports as "secondary care needs" the Government is treating autistic and neurodivergent children less favourably than other children with additional needs, and this approach is in direct breach of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004, and potentially the Equal Status Act 2000, both of which guarantee fair and equitable access to services, including education; and — creating a chaotic and deeply worrying environment for parents of children with additional needs by failing to provide an appropriate school place for every child with additional needs; and calls on the Government to: — immediately provide long-overdue clarity and a direct apology to every school, SNA, and family that has been informed of a pending cut, ending the cruel uncertainty they face; — abandon the disastrous 2025/2026 SNA review in its entirety and immediately reverse all cuts, affirming that the needs of children, not bureaucratic spreadsheet formulas, will determine resource allocation; — commit to a root-and-branch review and replacement of the outdated Circular 0030/2014, developing a new, fit-for-purpose framework, that recognises the evolving and essential role of the SNA in supporting the holistic needs of the child; — urgently prioritise and publish a comprehensive SNA Workforce Development Plan, developed in genuine partnership with SNAs and their unions, that formally recognises and values the full, professional scope of their role, including their contribution to educational and social outcomes; — immediately implement a fair and transparent SNA redeployment scheme, to provide job security for existing SNAs, and retain their invaluable experience within the school system; — take immediate steps to significantly increase the number of SNA posts and special class places, to address the chronic and unmet demand, ensuring no child is left without a placement; — guarantee that no future changes to SNA provision will be made without meaningful, constructive, and transparent engagement with schools, parents, and SNAs themselves, ensuring their voices and expertise are central to decision-making; and — make a steadfast, whole-of-Government commitment that every single child with additional needs will not only secure an appropriate school placement but will also have access to the necessary Special Education Teacher support, SNA care, and therapeutic interventions they require to reach their full potential and participate fully in school life.”
“A number of survivors of industrial and reformatory schools were on hunger strike last year. There were commitments on behalf of Government to provide health supports. Could the Taoiseach say when those health supports will be in place? Related to that, on the Dáil schedule tomorrow there is, "Apology related to childhood abuse (hunger strikers) (working title): Statements". Is that apology going to be for all survivors? Could the Taoiseach be specific in relation to that? Have they been notified of that apology?”
“I have far too many cases I can talk to him about but he will be very well aware that there are no crèche places. There is no early childhood care and education programme. There is no after-school provision. Parents are faced with the challenge of not having a place for their child in their local area. It turns their lives upside down and lifts their children away from their local communities. It is deeply unfair. I ask the Minister of State to please address those facts. What is the solution for these families for September?”
“I ask the Minister of State to recognise there is a shortage of school places for this September, in significant numbers. That is without a doubt and the offers have gone out and the responses are coming back in. He will have a very clear picture of that if he makes contact with the schools in Dunshaughlin. He should identify where additional capacity is going to be delivered. In the first instance, commit to additional capacity for the town. It is needed, without a doubt. I ask the Minister of State to commit to it for this September, identify where he is going to deliver it and provide assurances to parents, in the quickest possible timeframe, that capacity will be there, the children will receive an offer and they will have a place in their local school.”
“The Minister of State has spoken for over four minutes and not a single word is of any benefit to community in Dunshaughlin and parents who are without school places for this September. He talked about future plans and investment. What solution is going to be put in place for these students? There could be in the region of 80 or more, hopefully slightly fewer, who do not have school places for this September. I am seeking a response to that, not what is going to happen in the future. Investment in the community national school is very welcome but the minute it is built it will be too small. We waited long enough for it. I welcome the diggers on the ground but the minute it is built, it will be too small. I have specific asks.”
“These schools and their principals are doing tremendous work, but the Department needs to work with them urgently to arrange the delivery of extra places whether that means additional teachers, resources or temporary accommodation. Third, we cannot keep doing this every year. We need a plan for mainstream and special class provision for this growing community. We cannot be doing this every year.”