Athlone SNAs to host protest outside Department of Education

A protest against proposed cuts to special needs assistants (SNAs) will take place outside the Department of Education in Athlone tomorrow (Friday) at 4pm.

SNAs teaching in the town's local national and primary schools are expected to be joined by their colleagues and members of the community as they aim to send 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.

Despite this announcement and the decision to pause the review process for the coming school year, much "uncertainty" and "concern" remains amongst SNAs in the local community, protest organiser Marie Downey said.

The Coosan NS based SNA felt the need for a protest to take place in Athlone "given the number of primary and secondary schools" in the town and surrounding areas.

"We have to show the Government that this is a serious issue. We have to stand up for all SNAs working in our local schools," Marie said.

Marie has served the SNA role in Coosan NS for 12 years but there is a continuous air of uncertainty attached to her job. This, she said, "should not be the case".

"We are looking after the most vulnerable children in the education system and our jobs should not be continuously under threat," Marie added.

Marie said any SNA job cuts would have a "ripple effect" throughout the community.

"This is not just about the children. It is the knock-on effect potential job cuts will have. It's also added stress for the parents who are continuously fighting the system on behalf of their children," Marie said.

Marie said children with special education needs are very much part of the mainstream classroom and without the support of the SNA, the teacher would not be in a position to fulfil their daily duties.

In advance of the protest, Marie is calling on the Government to provide more job security for SNAs in their roles.

"There needs to be proper planning put in place to ensure that SNAs are not living with uncertainty.

"We are just looking for fairness and respect and hopefully the protest will highlight our cause," Marie concluded.