Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

We will move on to the next item, a discussion on the role of special needs assistants, SNAs. As part of the work programme agreed by the committee, Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin will prepare a report on the role of SNAs. Policy briefs on this issue have been circulated to all members. The remainder of today's meeting will be devoted to initiating the preparation of the aforementioned report. In that regard, I welcome representatives of the National Council for Special Education, the NCSE, Ms Teresa Griffin and Ms Mary Byrne. I also welcome Ms Áine Lynch and Ms Carmel O'Shea from the National Parents Council Primary and Mr. Don Myers and Mr. Jim Moore from the National Parents Council Post Primary. Finally, I welcome Mr. Dessie Robinson and Ms Joan McCrohan, representing the trade union IMPACT. I now invite Ms Griffin to make her opening remarks on behalf of the NCSE.