The programme for Government promises to look at the whole issue of special needs education. There seems to be significant delay on the part of the Department of Education and Skills and the National Council for Special Education in allocating special needs assistants, SNAs, for next year. Already schools and parents are concerned that they do not know what is happening.

I hope some announcement will occur that there will be more investment in special needs assistants in the coming year. If there is, it will come with a sour taste, however, because schools are off, boards of management are not operating and teachers are not at school, meaning people do not know what is happening with the sector. Special needs assistants are worried about their jobs and parents are worried about their children. It is about a month later than last year, but this is causing huge confusion throughout the education system. Will the Taoiseach give the parents, the SNAs and schools any comfort on this matter?

A memo will go to the Cabinet either tomorrow or next week on SNAs. Hopefully, there will be clarity over the next few days for people. The Deputy has made a valid point that this is not the best way to do things. It would be much better if people knew where they stood before the school year ended. I anticipate this will be the last year in which it is done in this way and, in future years, people will be given much more notice than has happened in the past.