Over 100 schools get Special Needs boost
By Lynda O'Donoghue Donnelly
MORE than 100 schools across south-west Dublin will be allocated new Special Needs 
Assistants from September.
The announcement was made on Wednesday morning and will see the posts created from the beginning of the new school year.
St Mark’s, Sacred Heart, Scoil Solas Chríost and St Thomas’ in Tallaght will all be allocated new SNA posts, while Our Lady of the Wayside, Gaelscoil Inse Choir, Mary Queen of Angels and De La Salle National School in Ballyfermot will also benefit from the announcement.
In Dublin Mid-West Scoil Nano Nagle, St Mary’s Senior School, Talbot Senior School and St Ronan’s in Clondalkin will also get new assistants along with Lucan Boys National School, Scoil Oscair, Esker Educate Together and St Andrew’s in Lucan.
The news was welcomed by Labour TD Robert Dowds who believes that the new appointments will be of huge benefit to schools in the area.
He said: “The Government has previously said it would to ensure that every child with an assessed care need gets SNA support. This announcement bears that out and I am pleased that local schools are getting their fair share of new posts.
“This is a legacy that I am extremely proud to stand over as a Labour representative because it shows very clearly how Labour as a party has fought hard to protect and support special needs education at a time when we had to simultaneously deal with the most difficult financial period in our history.”
A number of Special Schools from across the area will also get new SNAs at the beginning of September and these include Saplings in Rathfarnham, Cheevers-town Special School and Scoil Mochua.
Minister for Justice and Equality Frances Fitz-gerald TD also believes that the announcement marks a huge step forward.
She said: “Every single child with such a need will now receive access to SNA support, following this announcement.
“From my experience in visiting schools across Lucan, Clondalkin, Rathcoole, Palmerstown, Newcastle and Saggart and in speaking to parents, I am fully aware of the huge benefits which SNAs bring to the education experience of children in the classroom.”
