There is a serious shortage of special needs assistants, SNAs, in schools in west Cork. In the past week, schools in Ballydehob, Caheragh, Schull, Maulatrahane, Dreeny and elsewhere have urgently required SNAs. Despite announcements in budget after budget that extra SNAs have been agreed, nothing is happening for these schools on the ground. This is an urgent situation that needs addressing as many of these children are being treated shockingly.

Some must go home early from school daily as proper help is not available in their schools. One principal told me she knows of schools in Dublin that were in the same position but got SNAs immediately upon requesting them. Why do we have a two-tier society in our education system? Will the Minister work with these schools in west Cork to resolve this crisis for school principals, teachers, staff, parents and, most of all, vulnerable children?

It is in recognition of the importance of SNAs and the difference they can make in our primary classrooms to young girls and boys that the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Michael McGrath, and the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, put in place a substantial plan to allow the recruitment of many additional SNAs next year. A plan was put in place to lead to the recruitment of many hundreds of additional SNAs in 2022 in order that we will be in a position to ensure the educational needs of our youngest are met. I cannot give the Deputy an answer regarding what is happening in the specific schools he mentioned. This does not need to be turned into Dublin versus the rest of the country issue. The needs the Deputy is referring to are also felt in schools in Dublin and beyond. He does it a disservice by trying to put it in that light, as he does with every issue.

The Minister has no answer to the question I asked.

The Government has brought forward a national plan-----

He does not want to answer the question I asked on behalf of the parents and children of west Cork.

-----of additional money for the Department and Minister for Education-----

Stop turning the issue into a political football.

I thank the Deputy and the Minister. We are over time.

-----in recognition of the fact that children all over our country need these additional SNAs.