Mulcahy urges Clare Principals to apply for SNAs
Senator Tony Mulcahy has welcomed the announcement by Government of its decision to increase the cap on the number of special needs assistants (SNAs) to almost 11,000 in order to meet demands of the country’s growing school population.
The Shannon-based Senator confirmed that Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn T.D., has today obtained Cabinet approval to increase the cap on the number of SNAs by 390 in the coming year.
“As a result of this news, I would call on School Principals across Clare to submit applications for SNAs as soon as possible to the Minister’s Department. I am available to lend my support to any school requiring it in this regard,” stated Senator Mulcahy.
He continued: “I know from personal experience, as the father of a child with special needs, that the provision of 390 additional SNAs in our schools will have an enormous impact on the overall development of children across the country. Although the SNA is employed with specific responsibilities for one pupil, the whole principle of inclusion means that a child who has a physical or learning disability is helped to work in the company of other children.”
He continued: While progress has been made during the past couple of years in terms of increasing the number of SNAs, I believe that the Minister and this Government must continue to provide the necessary resources to our schools. The number of pupils in our schools will continue to grow and therefore the demand for SNAs will also increase,” Senator Mulcahy concluded.
