Review of SNA provision is 'insulting and cruel', say Limerick campaigners

AROUND 200 people gathered in the city centre to show their opposition to Government plans to review the provision of Special Needs Assistants (SNAs).

Teachers, parents and local politicians were at Merchant’s Quay on Wednesday to send a message of opposition to ministers to adjust how SNA posts are allocated, with many fearing it will lead to classroom cuts.

Education Minister Hildegarde Naughton put the plans on ice ahead of the protests in Limerick and nationwide, but demonstrators have called for certainty for the future, rather than a pause.

READ MORE: Developers set to seek permission for over 730 new homes in Limerick

Addressing the protest in the city, Padraig Lohan, a special education teacher based locally said: “I genuinely could not count the number of children I know who have engaged and succeeded and got on in a mainstream classroom thanks to the support of an SNA. These are children who otherwise couldn’t. And through the compassion, understanding and hard work of an SNA, they can.”

“But there are also children who might not fit the narrow definition of need that the National Council for Special Education is asking for. But they do need support. They have always needed support. And for the Government to pretend not to understand is insulting and cruel,” he added.

Eleanor McSherry, the parent of a child who relied on an SNA during their schooldays added: “We are not treated the same as other parents. We are called in daily and spend our summers waiting to find out if our children will get the resources they need to go to school the next year. No other parents have to go through that. Our kids are not statistics. I hate the fact the Government is using the monetary value of our kids’ supports against us.”

Councillors Padraigh Reale and Elisa O’Donovan also addressed the protest.