Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 February 2026
366. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether her Department has conducted any review of the operation of the SNA redeployment scheme for the 2025–2026 school year; to provide the number of SNA posts redeployed nationally in that period; and to outline how redeployment interacts with reductions notified to schools. [13783/26]
View answerI know the central role that special needs assistants (SNAs) play in the successful inclusion of students with additional and significant care needs in schools to enable them to achieve their best outcomes and reach their full potential. Because of this, the department has been increasing SNA numbers for many years. There are now over 23,000 SNAs working in schools. By the end of the 2026/27 school year, this number will be close to 25,000 across mainstream classes, special classes, and special schools.
Since 2020/21, the number of SNAs in schools has grown by 45%. Every county has seen an increase in SNA support over this period.
A breakdown of the number of SNAs allocated to mainstream (as well as special schools) annually from school year 2012/2013 is available on the NCSE website.
SNAs work as part of a whole-school team to support students with special educational needs. This team also includes nearly 22,000 special education teachers nationwide.
The number of SNAs a school needs can change for different reasons, such as changes in student numbers, changes in individual care needs, or students moving from primary to post-primary school. When the NCSE reviews SNA allocations, it looks closely at the care needs of students in each school. This helps make sure that SNA support goes where it is most needed. The role of the SNA is set out in DEY Circular 30/2014 and the NCSE process for SNA reviews is consistent with its provisions.
Every SNA review undertaken by the NCSE is a detailed and specific review of the care needs profile in that individual school. Where the NCSE identify during the review that the care needs have increased in an individual schools the necessary SNA resources to support those needs schools are provided.
Where an NCSE review identifies a decrease in the level of care need in a school and where this decrease is significant, it results in a reduction in the SNA allocation to that school. Schools that are not satisfied with the outcome of their SNA review may avail of the NCSE’s internal appeal mechanism. Furthermore, where a school is not satisfied with the outcome of the appeal on the basis that they consider the process was not followed, the school can refer the matter to the independently chaired Appeals Advisory Committee (AAC). Further information on these processes is available from the NCSE website: www.ncse.ie
No SNAs are being removed from any school in this school year with any change only coming into effect for the start of the 2026/27 school year.
While the NCSE allocation and review processes are essential to ensure SNA support is provided where it is most needed, my department is mindful of the impact of a reduction in allocation on SNAs personally. This is among the reasons my department is working with the NCSE to develop an SNA redeployment scheme. This important policy initiative which is in the final stages of development will ensure that as far as possible, competent, knowledgeable, and experienced SNAs are retained in our schools.
The SNA redeployment scheme is being implemented for the 2025/26 school year, providing an opportunity for redeployment of SNAs as the need arises for the start of the 2026/27 school year. It is important to note that SNAs in surplus posts identified through the NCSE’s SNA Review process will remain in the relevant school for the rest of the 2025/26 academic year. Assuming no change to SNA allocations in the meantime, eligible SNAs in standard posts (both full-time and part-time) who opt for redeployment may be redeployed to a new post in September 2026.
Updates and final details of the SNA Redeployment Scheme, including a circular and comprehensive guidelines, will be published on the NCSE website and the SNA Information Hub on www.gov.ie as work progresses.
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.
