This is from a local school:

We have applied for Exceptional [need] Reviews ... [on three different occasions with] 3 different demands of paperwork. All were refused. We have now appealed but are so disheartened and have low expectations.

Throughout the process, not one SENO/NCSE staff has visited our school. Our own SENO has in fairness been supportive but had no role in the reviews which were conducted remotely without any contact with the school.

We already know that the support which is already inadequate for our current group of children ...

It is not enough to say that the government are prioritising children with additional needs- the current system of allocating SNAs is simply not.

It goes on to say:

Why do we have to wait for children to fail to apply for support?

Where is the support for early intervention in primary school and setting up for success as they miss key milestones?

As exasperating as this is for school staff ... [how must it be for parents?]. In our area, most are waiting over 3 years to get access to support from the Children's Disability Teams.

Schools are well placed to support these children but [they] need ... [the supports].

That is after 11 years of the Tánaiste's party being in government-----

The time is up.

-----and that is what these schools, which are our schools-----

Deputy, please. Your time is up.

-----in his constituency are facing.

I thank the Deputy. If we look back over the past 11 years, we see there has been unprecedented investment in education for children with special or additional needs. We now have more special needs assistants, SNAs, in the country than even gardaí - more than 14,000 or 15,000.

This is this week in the Tánaiste's constituency - our constituency.

Please, Deputy.

I appreciate there are issues and I am certainly engaging with the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, on them. I would be happy to take any details from the Deputy.