Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation
Dail Éireann — 2026-02-18
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Mary Lou McDonald (SF), Dublin Central

I want to return to the Government's cuts to special needs assistants, SNAs, for schools and its pause, as the Taoiseach calls it. I want to establish exactly what that means.
I raised the situation generally but also specifically with the Taoiseach yesterday. Fossa National School in Killarney has been written to in order to inform it that it will be losing four SNAs. Johnstown Boys National School in Dublin will lose five SNAs. Scoil Barra in Ballincollig, Cork, will lose two SNAs. Will the Taoiseach help us by confirming whether or not those losses will proceed in September - "Yes" or "No"? Is that what this pause means or is the Government simply buying time and intending to resume its course of action? It is extremely important that we have clarity on this matter today because the actions of the Government have caused real concern, anxiety and anger, and have the potential to create chaos in school communities.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-02-18/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:39+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-02-18