Special Educational Needs
Seanad Éireann — 2026-02-12
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Eileen Lynch (FG), Agricultural Panel

I thank the Minister of State for taking this Commencement matter. I appreciate this is not within his portfolio.
I note the content of the response. I do not feel that it particularly provides many answers. The 45% increase in SNA allocation since the 2020-21 school year is well and good, but what will that figure be when we are back for the 2026-27 school year, when all of these reductions are taken into account?
The importance of the role of the SNA cannot be overstated. As I said earlier, they are providing a service which, in many cases, is the difference between kids being able to go to a mainstream school and having to go to a separate or special school. Taking these supports away means there is no way certain children will be able to stay in the mainstream. It will put massive pressure on teachers and classrooms, and potentially lower the standard of education that the rest of the children within schools are receiving.
This is an issue that affects many areas in my own constituency, but it is also affecting schools right across the country. I appreciate that there is a review and that an appeal system is in place. However, the feedback I am getting from teachers is that they are almost scared to put in an appeal because they are kind of being told that if they put in an appeal, there is every chance they could lose a further SNA. While I appreciate the need for the efficient use of resources, when we are talking about SNAs and educational supports, it is incredible that we are seeing such losses of SNAs under this review. If the need was there last year, and the circumstances of the children availing of the SNA support have not changed, why would they not be entitled to an SNA?

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-02-12/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:37+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-02-12