Louth TD accuses Govt of having 'zero regard' for SNAs amid review U-Turn

Sinn Féin TD for Louth Joanna Byrne has accused the government of having "zero regard" for SNAs amid calls for clarity on potential cuts. 

It comes as the government announced the review into special needs assistant (SNA) allocations would be paused.

It came after the National Council for Special Education contacted 200 schools indicating SNA allocations would be reduced. 

Deputy Byrne described the role of SNAs as vital, and said decisions taken by the government have "zero regard" that role. 

"In recent weeks we have heard government representatives clapping themselves on the back announcing new special school places across Louth. 

At the same time I have been working with families in Drogheda who cannot even apply for a special school placement because of an arbitrary deadline put in place last year, excluding them from receiving a letter of eligibility.

The icing on the cake was the recent news that SNA reviews could potentially see schools lose SNA’s at a time when local schools are fighting for increased SNAs,” she said.

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The Louth TD said although the review has been paused, and families can now reapply for letters of eligibility, the process is "simply not good enough". 

Deputy Byrne called on the government to start "trusting and listening to parents, SNA's and schools". 

She said she intends to raise the matter in the Dáil next week.