Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 December 2025
434. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason the NCSE has restricted the application window for SNA review requests between 15 September to 24 October; whether she will commit to allowing applications throughout the school year to reflect emerging needs beyond such small windows of opportunity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71501/25]
View answer435. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth the rationale for unifying SNA allocations across mainstream and special classes; the measures which are in place to ensure autism class resources are not diluted or redeployed to the detriment of children with higher levels of need; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71506/25]
View answer437. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth the way in which schools are expected to provide evidence implementation of the Relate document within the six-week review window, given the absence of adequate training and preparation; whether additional time and resources will be provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71503/25]
View answer438. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether she will provide assurances that no child currently receiving SNA support will lose that support due to the new NCSE guidelines; and if a robust and accessible appeals process will be guaranteed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71504/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 434, 435, 437 and 438 together.
The NCSE Guidelines for the Review of SNA Allocations 2025/26 issued to schools on the 12 September 2025. In response to concerns raised the NCSE subsequently published the Clarification Document to be read in accompaniment with NCSE SNA Guidelines .
The process for allocating SNAs has been in place since 2014 and has not changed this year. SNA allocations for the 2025/26 school year were notified to schools in June 2025.
The NCSE continues to respond to increased demand for SNA support as is reflected growing SNA workforce which now numbers more than 23,000, an increase of 43% in the last 5 years alone.
The timeline for SNA reviews contained in the guidance meets the following strategic objectives:
• Supports the earlier announcement of SNA allocations for the 2026/27 school year to align with the release of the annual staffing schedule.
• Stakeholder feedback from school management bodies, staff representative bodies, schools and SNA’s requests that the department ensures that SNA allocations issue earlier preferably to align with the general staffing allocation in February.
• Supports the SNA workforce by giving them early clarity on their tenure in schools.
• Facilitates the SNA Redeployment Scheme.
The NCSE has written to all schools since the publication of the guidelines to clarify that a school can request a review at any time during the school year and not just in the review period set out in the guidelines. Any school who has concerns about their SNA allocation should contact their local special education needs organiser in the first instance.
I want to assure you that the department and the NCSE, through all of our policy and guidance such as resource allocations, take a child centred focus and approach to ensure that all children in our schools with special education care needs are provided with a supportive environment and the resources needed to help them develop and be prepared for life after school.
