Special Needs Assistants: Statements
Dail Éireann — 2026-02-25
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Peter Roche (FG), Galway East

Rather than adding to the contributions that have been made thus far, I will take the opportunity to read a letter from a child to an SNA:
I wanted to say thank you. When I walk into school in the morning, I look for you first. When I see you, I feel calm. I know I am okay.
Sometimes school feels very loud in my head. The classroom can be busy. The bell is noisy. People talk fast. Sometimes I don’t understand straight away. You help me. You help me remember what to do next. You help me when the words are hard. You help me when I feel wobbly inside. You don’t just sit beside me. You help me join in.
When the other children are working, you help me do my work too. When I get stuck, you don’t rush me. When I feel sad, you notice. When I try something new, you smile at me like I just climbed a big mountain.
Because of you, I am in my class with my friends. I get to learn. I get to laugh. I get to be part of everything. Without you, I think school would feel too big for me. I might feel lost. I might feel scared. I might not be able to stay. But with you, I feel brave. You help me show people what I can do — not just what I find hard.
Thank you for helping me belong.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-02-25/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:41+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-02-25