Sinn Féin TD for Waterford, Conor D. McGuinness, has called on the Government to immediately return to meaningful negotiations as Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) in Waterford and across the state overwhelmingly rejected the Government’s proposed Workforce Development Plan.
Deputy McGuinness said the result should serve as a wake-up call for Government following months of growing frustration among SNAs, parents and school leaders.
Deputy McGuinness said:
“SNAs have delivered a clear and decisive verdict. They have rejected a plan that they do not believe reflects the reality of the work they do every day in our schools.
“Earlier this year, during a Dáil debate on special education, I shared the testimony of an SNA from West Waterford who described a system under enormous strain. She spoke of staff who are severely understaffed and underpaid, carrying physically, emotionally and mentally demanding responsibilities while supporting children’s safety, learning, communication and care.
“Those concerns have not gone away. If anything, they have become even louder.
“SNAs are the backbone of special education. They help children participate in school, build confidence and reach their full potential. They deserve respect, fair treatment and a genuine voice in decisions affecting their profession.
“The Government cannot simply press ahead after such an emphatic rejection. It must listen.
“Parents, teachers and SNAs have been warning for years that special education is under increasing pressure. Ignoring the workforce at the heart of that system will only make matters worse for the children who depend on it.
“The Minister must now re-engage with SNAs without delay, return to meaningful discussions and work towards an agreement that recognises the value of the work they do every single day.
“Our children deserve a properly supported special education system. That begins with properly supporting the people who make it work.”
Conor D. McGuinness TD 