'SNA's are saving lives' - Autism Louth announce protest amid SNA review

Autism Louth have announced it will hold a protest amid plans by the Department of Education to conduct a review into SNA allocations. 

The planned protest will take place on Wednesday, February 25th outside Ardee Monastery School. 

Kitty Colbert, Committee member with Autism Louth said parents were left "distraught and anxious" about any potential cut to Special Needs staffing. 

"A school can only be as good as the staffing they are allocated. Many schools have one SNA shared amongst several classes - that’s just not good enough to begin with, never mind cutting those provisions," she said. 

Ms Colbert pointed out the "irony" that Fianna Fáil TD for Louth Erin McGreehan said parents "cannot live with uncertainty". 

She said it is "absurd" and "enraging" that it is Deputy McGreehan's party in government. 

"Our communities honestly feel like they are laughing at us at this stage. Schools currently have no idea if the cuts they were told to expect are happening," she said. 

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Ms Colbert said all children benefit from having SNA's in the classroom and welcomed the "temporary U-turn". 

"While they are there to only support those who need it, it goes without saying that the classroom runs a lot smoother when all students are able to take part and be included. The teacher can fully concentrate on their work of simply teaching the pupils."

"We welcome the news that the government have now taken a temporary U-turn, but I think we are all very cautious of their wording," she said.

Minster for Education Hildegarde Naughton announced last week, there would be a "pause" in the review, amid pushback from the public and opposition TDs. 

It came despite reports that schools had received notification from the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) that jobs may be cut.