Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 February 2026
630. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Youth the way in which the allocation of therapy and SNA is done, comparing between ASD-focused provisions and medically complex schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12028/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision and care support for children and young people with special educational needs in our schools, including the allocation of special needs assistant (SNA) support to schools.
SNAs are very important in supporting students with additional and significant care needs take part in school life. 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.
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.
Minister Naughton and I have listened carefully to all of the issues raised by parents and school communities in recent days. In light of concerns raised we have paused the review of the SNA allocations.
Minister Naughton, myself, the Tánaiste and the Taoiseach are engaging intensively to ensure that all of the concerns raised are really understood and children with special educational needs are fully supported.
No further letters on SNA review outcomes will issue until these engagements have concluded in the coming weeks.
On 6th February 2026, building on the programme for government commitment, the Department of Education and Youth announced the phased rollout of the Education Therapy Service (ETS) which is being delivered by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE). It is important to highlight that this is the initial phase of the ETS rollout, which will occur on a phased basis, with a wider roll-out to further special schools within the 2026/2027 school year and a new initiative which will see all schools benefit in the coming years.
NCSE Speech and Language Therapists (SLTs) and Occupational Therapists (Ots) will work in collaborative partnership with schools to ensure the children with the greatest needs are supported. NCSE therapy will also work alongside existing supports and services.
The initial phase of the ETS will commence in 45 special schools in this school year. The initial clusters will be based in Carlow, Cork, Dublin, Galway, Kildare, Kilkenny, Louth, Laois, Limerick, Longford, Meath, Monaghan, Tipperary, Westmeath, Wexford and Wicklow.
Initial schools and clusters have been determined through detailed and robust engagement with the NCSE, HSE and the Department of Children, Disability and Equality (DCDE) to ensure transparency and alignment of services. A framework, including a weighting system, was developed to identify schools for inclusion in the initial phase of the ETS. A number of factors were considered, including therapy supports available through existing services, the needs and number of students per school, date of school establishment, together with the NCSE’s regional structure.
As the ETS support to special schools is rolled out, the ETS will continue to provide support to mainstream schools through a Teacher Professional Learning service which includes follow up coaching and mentoring. The ETS will also continue to provide supports to mainstream schools through the sustained support service which is operational in 22 schools in the Eastern region and 28 schools in the Western region during the 2025/2026 school year.
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.
