Thank you to everyone who has signed and shared this petition so far. Your support continues to matter.
Since launching this petition calling for clarity on the September 2025 NCSE guidelines, further serious issues have emerged that must also be addressed by the Department of Education and relevant Ministers.
One of the most concerning issues relates to the Assessment of Need process. The Assessment of Need under Section 2 of the Disability Act 2005 was reviewed by the National Disability Authority in 2011 without consulting a single child, as highlighted by Neurodiversity Ireland. It is now 2025, and although reform of the AON has been announced, parents, SNAs and schools still do not have clear information about how this process will operate in practice or how children’s voices will be included.
Children must be centred in any reform. While adults play a vital role in navigating systems on behalf of children, children themselves have a legal right to be heard. Reform must not become another process where adult or institutional voices are prioritised over those most affected.
In addition, parents and SNAs are being left without clarity on key practical issues, including how decisions are being made under the new AON process, what supports replace SNA intervention when needs are emotional or sensory in nature, how eligibility and access are being managed, and what happens when official guidance contradicts itself.
These concerns are now being formally added to this petition so they are on record.
Alongside this petition, I have sought clarification through formal correspondence with Minister Michael Moynihan and Minister Norma Foley regarding the status of the September 2025 NCSE guidelines, review processes and the impact on schools, SNAs and families. Despite repeated requests, direct and specific written responses have not yet been provided.
We are therefore calling on the Department of Education to issue clear, written and unambiguous guidance addressing the operational status of the September 2025 NCSE guidelines, whether a new circular will be issued, how AON decisions are made in practice, how emotional and sensory support needs are addressed, how eligibility and access are managed, and how children’s voices will be meaningfully included.
Families, schools and SNAs deserve transparency, consistency and child centred decision making. Please continue to sign and share this petition to ensure these concerns cannot be ignored.