Cavan-Monaghan TD Cathy Bennett said she is 'disgusted' by Department of Public Expenditure's refusal to rule out cuts to other services' to fund the last-minute €19 million allocation for Special Needs Assistants (SNAs).
Deputy Bennett shared her thoughts after a meeting of the PAC yesterday where the department could not provide clear answers as to where the €19 million in additional funding was coming from.
The Cavan-Monaghan TD said it is 'shocking and scandalous' that this promised allocation is currently unfunded and called on the Minister for Education to urgently clarify the situation.
The local TD believes it is entirely correct that government has now committed to allocating additional funds for SNAs.
Despite this, she says the question still arises, as to how was €19 million was found overnight when schools have been crying out for additional SNAs for years.
Speaking to Northern Sound, Deputy Bennett, says it remains an absolute and urgent need for the Minister to bring complete transparency and clarity to this situation.
Deputy Bennett explained: "It is entirely correct that the government has now committed to allocating additional funds for SNAs. However the question arises, how was €19 million found overnight? Schools have been crying out for additional SNAs for years. If the government had funding available – why was this not allocated to schools during the ordinary budgetary process last year?
"Is it the case that there is a secret government slush fund for the purpose of funding crucial public services only when the government embarrasses itself? There remains an absolute and urgent need for the Minister to bring complete transparency and clarity to this situation."
