Assault leave for injured SNA
Deputy Boyd Barrett raised Sophie Cole's case, saying she was assaulted while working as an SNA, left with lifelong injuries and then lost assault leave support, causing severe financial hardship. After procedural interjections, the Tánaiste said he was not familiar with the case but would discuss it with the Minister for Education and noted existing industrial relations and conciliation processes.
On behalf of Sophie Cole, I ask the Tánaiste to have the assault leave scheme amended urgently. I do not know if the Tánaiste knows Sophie. She is a former SNA who was assaulted and injured in the course of her work in November 2022. She has been left with lifelong injuries and in excruciating pain. The financial implications of this situation have seen Sophie and her husband having to take out loans to be able to pay their mortgage. They are in an absolutely dire state. Sophie was injured in the course of her work as an SNA, but after three months, assault leave ended and she was moved onto a State payment of €220. She is asking that this amendment be made not just on her own behalf but on behalf of all SNAs because these types of injuries happen all the time.
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It is shocking that someone can be left with lifelong injuries-----
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-----while working for the State and suffer dire financial consequences, as well as the medical impact suffered.
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Will the Tánaiste look at this issue urgently?
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I am not familiar with the background to the case and so forth but I will certainly talk to the Minister for Education in relation to the issue the Deputy has raised. There are established industrial relations and conciliation frameworks to try to resolve these issues or progress various schemes. I will, however, certainly discuss this issue with the Minister for Education.