I raise the issue of SNA cutbacks. While I am delighted to see the Minister hit the pause button on that, many schools such as Feakle National School, Flagmount Central National School in my own county and many more lie on tenterhooks, not knowing what is going to happen. I have had some very heartfelt letters from children who have benefited from SNA support in their school. It is an enabler for them to access education. We need to know what lies ahead, apart from the pause button being hit.

Circular 30/2014 redefined how SNAs support children. It said from now on support is based on complex care needs. That is so myopic and does not take into account the whole spectrum of needs children in a classroom can have in day. I say that as a former teacher, as someone who formerly worked as an SNA, and as someone who has a person quite close to them who benefited from special education. It is so myopic to say "complex care needs". These children need access to education every day of the week, not just toileting, feeding and medicine. We need to scrap that circular at the same time this cutback is paused. Please scrap the circular and rewrite it.

There is an expansion in the number of SNAs. The number will go up to 25,000 in September from 23,000. I listed earlier that since 2020, we have had an extra 8,000 plus SNAs. That is the level of expansion that has occurred. It is enormous by any standard and that should be acknowledged. There were pressures on certain schools as a result of the recent review and therefore we have paused it. Ministers will engage now with the NCSE and there will be engagement with all the schools that got an indication of a reduction.

I caution Deputies on the role and remit of SNAs. They cannot solve all problems in schools; they were never meant to. Their fundamental role is to facilitate and help the participation of children in schools. Other aspects of the needs of those children will have to be supported in other ways. That is the reason we are introducing therapies in schools, for example.

I thank the Taoiseach. I call Deputy Burke.

We need to look at other potential supports for children to ensure good fruitful inclusion and participation in schools.