Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 September 2025
264. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will review a request made by a school (details supplied) to have an additional SNA approved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50958/25]
View answerThe National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is, in the first instance, the primary body responsible for the matter the Deputy has raised. I have forwarded this issue to them for their attention and direct reply.
Deputies are also welcome to raise such queries with the NCSE directly through their dedicated Oireachtas query line at oireachtasqueries@ncse.ie.
My department has been steadily building on the number of special needs assistants (SNAs) in our education system. By the end of this year there will be over 23,000 SNAs in our mainstream classes, special classes and special schools, committed to supporting and nurturing children with special educational needs, enabling them to achieve their best outcomes and reach their full potential.
SNA posts are allocated to schools as a school-based resource. Principals/board of managements deploy SNAs within schools to meet the care support requirements of the children enrolled whom SNA support has been allocated.?This provides schools flexibility in how the SNA support is utilised.
Schools can apply for a SNA review from the 15th September to October 24th via the NCSE school portal. This is to support the earlier announcement of allocations for the 2026/27 school year to align with the release of the annual staffing schedule, this was requested by schools to allow them to plan better. In addition, it also supports our SNA workforce and the implementation of the SNA redeployment scheme.
Where an emerging requirement for further SNA support arises outside this time the school can contact their NCSE special education needs organiser (SENO) as in previous years, to discuss the need for a SNA review.
My department and the NCSE are committed to delivering an education system that is of the highest quality and where every child and young person feels valued and is actively supported and nurtured to reach their full potential.
