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The government and Minister for Education is allowing teacher shortages to spiral out of control due to inaction, according to Social Democrats education spokesperson Jen Cummins. Deputy Cummins said: “The teacher recruitment and retention crisis has brought schools around the country to their knees – the government cannot sit on the sidelines while teachers and […]

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 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 is making it up as it goes along when it comes to a review of SNA allocations, according to Social Democrats spokesperson for children Aidan Farrelly. Deputy Farrelly said: “The government created utter turmoil for families and schools this week with its botched SNA review, which was abruptly paused on Tuesday in response […]

The government must clarify what the pause in proposed SNA cuts means for families and school staff around the country, according to Social Democrats TD Liam Quaide. Deputy Quaide said: “This afternoon, the government backtracked on planned cuts to Special Needs Assistants in schools across the country after ferocious pressure from the public. “SNAs support […]

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 […]

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 […]

Social Democrats TDs Rory Hearne and Jen Cummins today handed in a letter to the Minister for Education on behalf of three Dublin families struggling to secure special education places for their children. Deputy Hearne, who is a TD for Dublin North-West, has taken up the cases of three children in his constituency – Riley […]

Social Democrats TD Jen Cummins has called on the Department of Education to scrap plans to review the designation of special schools ahead of the new term in September. Deputy Cummins, who is the party’s education spokesperson, said: “Schools catering for children with mild general learning disabilities are being put under pressure by the government […]

It’s time for the government to finally act on their promise to address the assessment of need crisis, according to Social Democrats acting leader Cian O’Callaghan. Deputy O’Callaghan said: “According to the Disability Act 2005, an assessment of need must be completed within six months of the date the application is received. “Yet, in the […]