Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) are essential and valued staff members of school communities. They play a vital role in supporting students with additional and significant care needs to take part in school life.
This government is fully committed to supporting children with special educational needs to fulfil their full potential and the Programme for Government makes a number of commitments to deliver on this objective.
Special education funding will exceed €3 billion in 2026 – up 58% since 2020 and the highest amount ever provided.
The number of 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.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible for coordinating the education and care support for children and young people with special educational needs in our schools, including the allocation of SNA support to schools. These allocations are based on the care needs of students.
While the NCSE allocation and review processes are necessary to ensure SNA support is provided where it is most needed, my department is very mindful that any change in SNA allocations can have a personal impact on staff.
Work on the first national SNA Redeployment Scheme is at the final stage. This important policy initiative will ensure that experienced SNAs are retained in our schools, building capacity in the workforce and enhancing the service to children and young people with special educational needs.
Undertaken in conjunction with work on the first SNA Workforce Development Plan, the SNA Redeployment Scheme will be operated by the National Council for Education (NCSE). For the first time, it will allow SNAs in posts which may no longer be required for reasons such as falling enrolments, reduced care needs or changing demographics, to be redeployed to a school which has a vacant post.
It has now been agreed that there will be no reductions to special needs assistants for the next school year 2026/27.
All schools reviewed by the NCSE and allocated additional resources will receive them in the upcoming school year.
It was agreed that the SNA Redeployment Scheme, the SNA Workforce Development Plan and changes to a 2014 circular outlining the role of a SNA will be advanced before any further decisions are taken.
After these key documents are agreed and published, the NCSE can commence reviews of supports provided to schools for the 2027/28 academic year which will uphold the integrity of the process, which allocates supports based on the needs of children.
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.
SNAs can use the free, confidential Employee Assistance Service (EAS), which provides mental health and wellbeing support. Contact details:
• Freephone: 1800 411 057
• SMS/WhatsApp: Text “Hi” to 087 369 0010
• Online: wellbeingtogether.spectrum.life/logi
The recruitment and appointment of special needs assistants (SNAs) is a matter for the individual school authority. Department Circular_0051_2019.pdf sets out the recruitment process for SNAs. When advertising for vacancies schools can create an internal panel of suitable applicants from which future vacancies including cover SNA vacancies may be filled. This internal panel is valid for the duration of the school year.
Updates and final details of the SNA Redeployment Scheme, including a comprehensive circular and guidelines, will be published on the NCSE website and the SNA Information Hub on www.gov.ie as work progresses.
