LAST UPDATE | 6 May

SPECIAL EDUCATION CAMPAIGNERS challenged Dublin Central by-election candidates at a packed public meeting in the constituency this evening, pressing them to commit to stronger supports for children with additional needs.

The event, organised by Save Our SNAs and Equality in Education at the National Handball Alley, brought together candidates, parents and special needs assistants (SNAs) amid what campaigners described as a deepening crisis in special education.

An A3 “Save Our SNAs” pledge was displayed prominently at the front of the hall, with most candidates ultimately signing it following their contributions.

Fine Gael candidate and Dublin lord mayor Ray McAdam was the only attendee who declined to sign, saying he does not sign pledges “no matter how much I may have agreed with what I don’t disagree with”.

McAdam said the current system is still based on a “narrow definition” of the SNA role and argued it should better recognise supports like “emotional regulation, participation, communication [and] classroom engagement”. After speaking first, he left for another previous engagement.

Sinn Féin candidate Janice Boylan, who spoke about her own experience as a parent of a neurodivergent child, received strong applause from the audience.

Sinn Féin's Janice Boylan pictured during the meeting. The Journal The Journal

She said families are being “forced to be warriors just to get basic support for their children”, adding: “There’s no way he would survive a day in school without his SNA.”

Social Democrats candidate Daniel Ennis told attendees that families “shouldn’t have to fight for the most basic services”, describing the situation as one where “the state has abandoned these families”.

Labour’s Ruth O’Dea said she had already signed the pledge and framed the issue as one of rights and equality, adding: “Without special provision, a child’s rights will not be able to be fulfilled.”

Independent candidate Gerard Hutch also addressed the meeting, notably his first appearance alongside other candidates during the campaign, and received applause from the room after his remarks.

He said he had been “shocked” to learn that some children are not attending school.

“I didn’t realise there would have been kids, nine or ten, at home not going to school. Never would have thought that,” Hutch said.

Hutch said that, if elected, he would act directly on the issue, telling attendees: “I will be doing everything in my power to deal with that… the funds are there, it’s just being channelled the wrong way.”

A number of Dublin Central candidates pictured after the event.

Green Party councillor Janet Horner emphasised the burden placed on families, saying many parents are “fighting tooth and nail” for supports and warning that children without strong advocates risk being left behind.

People Before Profit’s Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin and independent Colm Flood both criticised McAdam’s refusal to sign the pledge, with Ó Ceannabháin saying it was “disgraceful” to support the campaign in principle but not formally commit.

Flood described SNAs as “the heart of the school”, adding that without them, many students “would be lost”.

Organisers said the aim of the meeting was to push special and inclusive education to the centre of the by-election campaign and ensure candidates cannot ignore the experiences of families.