I want to return to the Government's cuts to special needs assistants, SNAs, for schools and its pause, as the Taoiseach calls it. I want to establish exactly what that means.

I raised the situation generally but also specifically with the Taoiseach yesterday. Fossa National School in Killarney has been written to in order to inform it that it will be losing four SNAs. Johnstown Boys National School in Dublin will lose five SNAs. Scoil Barra in Ballincollig, Cork, will lose two SNAs. Will the Taoiseach help us by confirming whether or not those losses will proceed in September - "Yes" or "No"? Is that what this pause means or is the Government simply buying time and intending to resume its course of action? It is extremely important that we have clarity on this matter today because the actions of the Government have caused real concern, anxiety and anger, and have the potential to create chaos in school communities.

I call on the Taoiseach.

Will those SNAs be maintained or lost?

The Taoiseach to respond. Time is up, Deputy.

The pause means what I said as I discussed in response to earlier questions raised by other-----

No, you did not. What does it mean?

Deputy, that is not how this works.

The Ministers will engage with those schools and with the National Council for Special Education on that review. The schools themselves have appealed the decision, or will have appealed it, and there will be engagement.

That does not mean anything.