A HEARTFELT plea to the Government not to cut the number of Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) as part of a review was made by a West Cork councillor at a meeting of  Cork County Council on Monday.

Beara-based Cllr Finbarr Harrington (Ind) raised a motion calling for a firm commitment that an ongoing nationwide review of the allocation model would not see cuts in SNA numbers.

He said he wanted to safeguard what he described as ‘lifelines’ for thousands of children and families across the country. ‘This motion is something that’s really close to me personally,’ he said, noting that 34,600 children currently relied on the support of 19,480 SNAs nationwide.

He warned that families were living in a state of anxiety because of the current review, adding that for parents, the word review often meant ‘uncertainty, fear, and the terrifying possibility that the support their child depends on could
disappear’.

‘For parents of children with additional needs, school is not just about learning maths or reading. It is about safety, dignity, and knowing their child will be understood, supported, and cared for,’ he added.

Cllr Harrington told members that parents and children alike felt the instability caused by the review process. ‘Children who rely on routine and familiarity sense when something feels unstable, and that uncertainty can be frightening,’ he said.

He added: ‘No child should lose essential support because of a review carried out at a distance. No family should be left in limbo. And no decision about children with additional needs should be made without listening to those who walk this journey every single day.’

Cllr Harrington requested that the council write to the Minister to seek her guarantee that the ongoing review of the SNA allocation model would not result in any reduction in the number of Special Needs Assistants.
The motion was seconded by Cork County Mayor Cllr Mary Linehan Foley (Ind), and received wide support from members. Cllr Daniel Sexton (Ind Ire) said there was a huge human side to this issue. ‘It cannot be just a cost-saving exercise,’ he said.