8 December 2017
By Bryan Smyth
bryan@TheCork.ie
Schools in Cork will benefit from additional SNAs next year; Fine Gael Senator, Tim Lombard, said that this is part of an overall increase of 1,000 SNAS nationally in 2018, ensuring every child in Cork who needs an SNA will have one.
Senator Tim Lombard began his political career as a Cork County Cllr and is now a Senator.
Senator Lombard said: “This is great news for Cork school children who need extra support. And it is also good news for local people training to become an SNA who will be looking for a job.
“Fine Gael is working in Government to support families and strengthen communities. We want a society in which everyone has the opportunity to reach their full potential, and we will achieve that by ensuring that everyone gets a fair chance.
“Additional funding for special needs education is an example of this approach, helping us to invest in our children’s futures. This latest Government funding announcement will ensure that every child in Cork who needs SNA support, receives it.
“130 additional SNAs are being made available for allocation to schools over the remainder of the school year (January – June 2018).
“Cork schools will be informed of their SNA allocation for the 2018/19 school year by the end of May 2018. This fulfils a commitment that the notification of SNA allocations would be brought forward so that schools and parents can have greater certainty for the following school year and I commend my colleague, Minister for Education and Skills Richard Bruton, for this approach.”
Minister Bruton added: “We are investing nearly €1.7 billion in Special Education, nearly one fifth of the total Education budget. I secured an additional €30m in Budget 2018 to fund the continued development of the SNA scheme with more than 1000 additional SNA posts being provided for from that funding.”
