Concern after cut to SNA allocation in Inishowen national school

Donegal County Councillor Ali Farren raised the issue on Thursday, after he was contacted by the school’s extremely concerned principal and parents.

The school is also a DEIS school, meaning it is located in an area of socio-economic disadvantage.

DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools) schools are to receive extra resources, funding and support.

Colr Farren, a 100% Redress Party councillor, said he is ‘led to believe’ the reduction of SNAs in this Inishowen school ‘is just the tip of the iceberg, because there are a lot more of these letters on their way out to principals, to tell them they could also be losing SNAs.’

He added: “I have been doing a bit of digging and investigating. I have been speaking to (100% Redress TD) Charles Ward and there seems to be a thinking in Dublin that we can do with less SNAs in our schools. That has left me fairly concerned.”

Colr Farren described SNAs as ‘vital’ to schools and children.

He said it is ‘always up to the people on the street to make noise and we shouldn’t have to do that’.

"Principals are very, very concerned at the moment. I’ve spoken to Charles Ward and I’m going to get on to his team, in the hope he can raise the issue in Dublin.

"He’s a busy man as it is. But. I think it’s vital all SNAs in Inishowen and Donegal and Ireland are retained.”

Colr Farren said the reduction is ‘very, very concerning’ and he will be liaising with Deputy Ward on the issue.

In September last year, parents and SNAs expressed deep concern over proposed changes to guidance criteria for the allocation of SNAs.

Later that month. trade union FORSA said the National Council for Special Education. and the Department of Education confirmed they would be writing to schools to clarify there was to be no change or narrowing of the criteria for SNA supports being provided to students.