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The controversy over SNA allocations has descended further into farce, according to Social Democrats TD Jen Cummins, with the Department of Public Expenditure admitting to an Oireachtas committee today that it has no idea where the government’s promised additional €19 million in funding will come from. Deputy Cummins, who is the party’s education spokesperson, said: […]

The State apology given by the Taoiseach today to those who suffered abuse in industrial and reformatory schools, while welcome, will be meaningless if the government fails to honour its commitment to provide additional supports for survivors, according to Social Democrats TD Jen Cummins. Deputy Cummins, who is the party’s education spokesperson, said: “It is […]

The government’s screeching u-turn on cuts to SNAs was inevitable but raises further serious questions, according to Social Democrats education spokesperson Jen Cummins. Deputy Cummins said: “The government was forced into this climb down because of enormous public anger. This is a victory for parents, school communities and SNAs. However, we now need clarity on […]

The government must not proceed with any plan to cut Special Needs Assistant support across the country, according to Social Democrats education spokesperson Jen Cummins TD. Deputy Cummins, who has been meeting with teachers, school leaders, SNAs and parents on special education, said: “The proposed cuts are wholly premature; many new special classes, which will […]

It is shameful that it took a hunger strike by survivors of industrial and reformatory schools to extract a State apology from the government, according to Social Democrats education spokesperson Jen Cummins. Deputy Cummins said: “While it is welcome that the Taoiseach has agreed to make a formal apology in the Dáil, this is the […]

Social Democrats TD Jen Cummins has called for earlier intervention and speedier referrals to the Education Welfare Service (EWS) to reduce long-term absenteeism rates in schools. Deputy Cummins, who is the party’s education spokesperson, was responding to new research from the ESRI which found that children attending special and DEIS schools in the most socio-economically […]

Social Democrats TD Jen Cummins has accused the government of failing to deliver the Hot School Meals Programme in a way that is fair, sustainable and genuinely centred on children’s nutritional needs. Deputy Cummins, who is the party’s spokesperson on education, made her comments after the issue was raised today at the joint Oireachtas Committee […]

A whole of government approach is needed to bring down the financial barriers preventing students from progressing to higher education, according to Social Democrats education spokesperson Jen Cummins. Deputy Cummins said: “Last year saw a decline in students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds progressing to colleges and universities – the gap in educational inequality is widening. […]

The government must urgently intervene to prevent children from being denied appropriate school places despite clear assurances given by the Minister for Education that this would not happen, according to Social Democrats education spokesperson Jen Cummins. Speaking in response to reports of an autistic child being refused a special school place because his parents contacted […]

Social Democrats TD Jen Cummins has criticised the government for what she described as a disrespectful and chaotic approach to announcing new special classes. Deputy Cummins, who is the party’s education spokesperson, said: “Ministers have drip-fed information about special classes through their personal social media accounts without making an official announcement or notifying schools in […]