Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 June 2026
492. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of SNAs currently employed; the estimated first and full-year cost of providing an additional 100 SNAs in primary and secondary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45663/26]
View answerThe National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is the statutory body responsible for the provision of special education and allocating supports for students with special educational needs.
Special education funding will exceed €3 billion in 2026 – up 58% since 2020 and the highest amount ever provided.
The number of special needs assistants (SNAs) allocated to schools nationally has increased by 45% between the 2020/21 school year and the present. By the end of the 2026/27 school year there will be close to 25,000 SNAs in our mainstream classes, special classes and special schools.
SNAs play a key role 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.
It is important to note that there have been increases in SNAs in all counties and across all education settings since 2020, including mainstream, special classes and special schools.
It is important to remember that when the NCSE allocates a SNA post, the board of management as the employer, is responsible for filling the vacancy.
The estimated full-year cost of a new entrant special needs assistant is €37,374 per annum.
The estimated full-year cost of a special need assistant is €45,020 per annum. This includes employer PRSI.
Where posts are allocated from 1 September, the cost is a pro-rata equivalent of the full 12 month annual cost.
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 achieve their full potential.
