Large turnout in support of SNAs at Edenderry protest

The Edenderry community united in support of Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) during a public protest at the Town Hall on Wednesday evening.

SNAs teaching in the town's local national and primary schools were joined by their colleagues and members of the community as they sent a message to the Government on the role they play in the education of children with special needs.

The Government this week said there would be no reductions to special needs assistants for the next school year, and any school that has been allocated additional resources will receive them.

This announcement followed a decision by the Minister for Education and Youth of Ireland Hildegarde Naughton to pause the review and reallocation of SNAs for the coming school year after it caused concern and outrage among parents, teachers and SNAs.

However, the public protest, in tandem with similar events throughout the country, proceeded on Wednesday evening.

One of three organisers of the protest in Edenderry, Evelyn Lynch has been a SNA since 2002. She now serves the role in Oaklands College and has been doing so since 2009.

Together with her fellow SNAs, Sharon Farrell (Scoil Bhríde NS) and Denise Lloyd (St Mary's Secondary School), she was overwhelmed by the groundswell of local support for their cause at the public protest.

"There was a very sizeable turnout in support of our public protest and we had SNAs travel to Edenderry from as far as Leixlip. There was also support from our elected representatives and members of the local community. We have sent a clear message to the Government that SNAs play a vital role in our education system," Evelyn said.

Evelyn said that while there is "uncertainty" regarding her SNA role at the school on a regular basis, she said it was with "disbelief" that she heard the Government were "even considering" reducing SNA numbers at schools.

"Since 2014 there always has been insecurity attached to our job and it's a concern but we all do our job because we have a passion for it," Evelyn said.

SNAs look after the primary and secondary care needs of pupils with additional needs in the classroom and without their support Evelyn said the teacher would not be in a position to do their job.

"There is an emotional attachment to each child you work with and we have to care for their personal needs, be it anxiety issues or toilet breaks, during the school day," Evelyn said.

Evelyn said that the Government shouldn't even think about reducing the number of SNAs in each classroom given the number of children now requiring additional assistance in schools.

"The Government should look towards hiring more and more SNAs for the start of each school year. Children also have a lot of secondary care needs and need help with such issues as dyslexia and dyspraxia on a regular basis," Evelyn explained.

While she agreed that the decision taken by the Government is a "sticking plaster", she is hoping to see proper planning for the future of special education in mainstream classes.

"This is the start of our fight and the protest was not a once-off event. The insecurity around our jobs needs to stop. Not alone does this job insecurity impact SNAs but it also effects the parents of these children. It's additional stress we simply do not need.

"If SNA policy is not changed then you are looking at a domino effect. I am thinking about the SNAs of the future and how our current job insecurity will impact their careers," Evelyn concluded.

Meanwhile Edenderry Sinn Fein Councillor Claire Murray praised the "invaluable work" of SNAs in mainstream schools

Cllr Murray said the scale of public response "had clearly made an impact" with the Government.

“SNAs are the unsung heroes in our schools. Their work is invaluable, and it must be respected."

The councillor said that over 1,000 parents, Special Needs Assistants (SNAs), teachers and people with disabilities attended an online public meeting hosted by Sinn Féin this week to discuss the Government’s proposed cuts to SNA supports.

"It was deeply emotional, with parents and teachers sharing personal stories about the reality facing their families. Parents spoke about years spent fighting for diagnoses, fighting for appropriate school places and fighting for support — only to now be told they must fight all over again. The word used repeatedly throughout the meeting was 'cruel'," Cllr Murray added.