Before coming to the Order of Business I propose to deal with a number of notices under Standing Order 32 and I will call on Deputies in the order in which they submitted their notices to my office. I call Deputy Calleary.
Requests to move Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 32
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to raise a matter of national importance, namely, the revelation that the chairperson of a tribunal established by the Oireachtas to investigate possible collusion in two murders wrote to the Government clearly objecting to the impact of new deadlines on the tribunal's work including the potential withdrawal of a vital witness, and the need for the Minister for Justice and Equality to make a statement to the House urgently on the matter.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to raise a matter of national importance, namely, the payments from the Department of Education and Skills to Bus Éireann, and the subsequent cutting of school transport services. Bus Éireann is receiving approximately €25 million for running the school transport service, whereas it should only receive approximately €8 million. The extra money is being used to support other Bus Éireann services, but it could instead be used to offset the €17 million being cut out of the school transport budget, and causing dreadful hardship in all rural counties, including my area in County Kerry.
I call Deputy Crowe. As Deputy Crowe is not here, I call Deputy Mary Lou McDonald.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to raise a matter of national importance, namely, the Government's cuts to the number of special needs assistants in schools which will adversely affect the most vulnerable and disadvantaged children, their classmates and existing teachers' ability to deliver first world education standards.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to raise a matter of national importance, namely, the impending cuts to school transport and the detrimental impact this will have on rural communities across this State; the undermining of the community fabric of small rural parishes and the additional financial pressure on hard pressed working families that may drive them to move away from their rural homes to an urban environment.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to raise a matter of national importance, namely, that due to Government cuts in schools in Meath, children who are the most disadvantaged and vulnerable are having their SNAs taken from them, which is having a massively negative impact on the children in question and all the other children in their classes; and the need for the Minister of Education and Skills to reverse the Department's decision to cut the number of special needs assistants.
Ba mhaith liom cead a lorg an Dáil a chur ar athló faoi Bhuan Ordú 32 chun déileáil leis an gnó rí-thábhachtach seo a bhfuil gá díospóireacht práinneach a dhéanamh air, is é sin, the need to reverse the ending of an SNA post in Scoil Bhríde, Raghnallach, Baile Átha Cliath 6, which would leave the remaining special needs assistant to cope with two pupils in separate classes each of whom are in need of individual constant support as committed to in the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004; bearing in mind that one of the pupils has severe autism and all that entails for the pupil and his class; and that another child who has an exceedingly rare medical condition — gastrointestinal failure — and is dependent for his nutritional growth and development on intravenous nutrition, TPN, via a catheter into his heart, which needs constant monitoring in case it is pulled or damaged which could lead to fatal consequences, and who also suffers from other medical and consequential needs which could not be catered for by sharing an SNA.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to raise a matter of national importance, namely, the issue of special needs assistant cuts which are causing serious disruption in my constituency of Dublin North-West. We have been hit heavily by cuts to funding of SNAs and other special resource teachers like in the case of St. Brigid's national school in Finglas which has to deal with four children in dire need of specialised assistance, one of whom is unable even to climb stairs and yet there is only one SNA between them.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to raise a matter of national importance, namely, the cuts to special needs assistants in schools across Cork city, and across this entire State, as an education system needs to deliver for all its students and SNAs should be allocated on a needs basis and not on the basis of financial instruction from the EU-IMF; and the long-term costs of not delivering on these services now.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to raise a matter of national importance, namely, the serious impact which the loss of a special needs assistant at Presentation Primary School, Listowel will have on the children affected, and the overall impact throughout the State on children whose education and development will be seriously set back if the cuts to special needs assistants go ahead, and the need for the Minister to revoke the cuts before the school term resumes in September.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to raise a matter of national importance, namely, the need to address the negative impact that the Government's implementation of changes to the rural schools transport system, including amending catchment areas and qualifying criteria and introducing a €50 charge, will have on children and schools in Laois and Offaly, in particular, in the areas of Raheen and Rosskelton.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to raise a matter of national importance, namely, the issue of special needs assistants, in particular, the funding cuts which are causing unfair disruption in my constituency of Sligo-North Leitrim, particularly in the case of Carraroe National School and the desperate situation where four children are being looked after by one SNA, a situation which is not suitable to the children's need or conducive to a proper and fit for purpose educational environment.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 32 to raise a matter of national importance, namely, the threat to the prospects of many young people reaching their full potential in education and in life presented by the flagged serious cuts to special needs assistant hours at schools across the country and the need for SENOs to be allowed to approve and appoint SNA supports in line with children's assessed needs.
Having considered the matters raised, they are not in order under Standing Order 32.