Mayo election candidate meets Minister to advocate for action in Special Education

Fine Gael General Election candidate for Mayo and behaviour consultant working with neurodiverse children, Keira Keogh, met this week with Minister Hildegarde Naughton, Minister of State for Special Education.

Ms Keogh welcomed several significant Special Education announcements in Budget 2025, including:

• A 6 percent increase in Special Education funding, raising the total budget to €2.9 billion

• The hiring of 768 special education teachers and 1,600 Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) to support children in mainstream and special education settings

• Enhancements to the Summer Programme, including an improved payment system for teachers and SNAs (although many are still awaiting payments for work done in July), and expanded eligibility for student Speech and Language Therapists (SLTs) and Occupational Therapists (OTs) to participate in summer programs.

Despite these positive developments, Ms Keogh raised urgent concerns with Minister Naughton that require immediate attention, especially regarding transport services for children with additional needs: “Many parents fear voicing concerns about transport issues for fear of losing their service. They often hear phrases like, ‘You’re lucky to have a bus service at all.’

“Neurodivergent children, particularly those with sensory sensitivities, can frequently endure long journeys - some traveling for over an hour when their school might be only 15 to 20 minutes away. This situation can be distressing for those who struggle with toileting or noise sensitivities, especially if their peers become upset.”

She also highlighted the difficulties faced by SNAs, who often exceed their contractual obligations: “One SNA I spoke with holds a 0.75-hour contract but consistently stays longer to support children. It has been mentioned that many schools are sometimes hesitant to request additional hours for fear that their SNA support might be reduced if a student's or classroom’s needs are perceived as less significant during review.”

Minister Naughton expressed concern about some of the issues raised but was confident they could be addressed. The Minister highlighted the new SNA Workforce Plan and the new Cabinet Committee on Disability, chaired by An Taoiseach Simon Harris.

Finally, Ms Keogh warmly welcomed the Government's decision this week to sign the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD): “This is a long-awaited, transformative step for individuals with disabilities and their families. It creates a clear route to justice for those whose rights have been breached after exhausting domestic avenues,” she stated.

The Optional Protocol is set to strengthen accountability, provide access to justice, and enhance government transparency concerning the rights of people with disabilities.