Carol Nolan demands urgent help for special needs in Leash Offaly
Carol Nolan raised concerns in the Dáil about children with special needs in Leash Offaly and demanded urgent action to appoint a dedicated special education needs organiser. She also highlighted shortages of SNAs and warned that families and schools are being failed.
Dedicated special education needs organiser
Carol Nolan said there is currently no dedicated special education needs organiser (SINO) in Leash Offaly. She recalled that there had previously been a number of SINO posts in the area and said parents have contacted her in frustration and upset at the current absence.
Shortages of SNAs
Nolan warned of a crisis around the provision of special needs assistants (SNAs) and said this shortfall is contributing to children with special educational needs being failed in Leash Offaly. She called for the SNA situation to be reviewed as a matter of urgency.
Impact on families and schools
The deputy emphasised that families and schools are trying to cater for children with special educational needs but require support and coordination. She said a dedicated SINO is needed to assist families and schools to ensure those children are provided for.
Minister's response and next steps
The minister acknowledged the critical role of the SINO and noted the connection between the health and education systems and the role of the NCSE. The minister said they had not realised there was no SINO in Offaly and would contact the relevant minister to see if something can be done.
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I just want to raise with you Minister a number of issues concerning children with special needs. I've been contacted by very frustrated and upset parents of children with special needs in my constituency of Leash Offaly. There's currently no dedicated special education needs organiser. Now we always had a number of special education needs organisers in Leash Offaly. To the best of my knowledge there were at least two because I contacted them myself over the years. Now it is shameful that this government talks about supporting children with special needs. It's able to talk the talk but unfortunately can't walk the walk. I'm asking for this government to take urgent action to ensure that Leash Offaly has a dedicated SINO special education needs organiser put in place to assist families and schools who are trying to cater for and make sure that children with special educational needs are provided for. Because as I say it is shameful. Also we need SNAs and there is crisis around the provision of SNAs. I would ask for that to be looked at. Our children with special educational needs are being failed in Leash Offaly and it's time now for urgent action. Thank you Minister to respond. I absolutely agree I think there is I mean I lauded some of the system earlier on but there is an issue as I was starting to say I think particularly in my mind when you connect between the health and the education system and the SINO and the NCSE have a particular role in that. I think you're absolutely right the SINO's role is critical. I didn't realise that there isn't one in Offaly is that you said in Portlaoise and I would contact the relevant minister to try and see if something can be done about that.
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