Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 June 2026
326. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of meetings held with special needs assistants and their representative organisations during the development of the SNA workforce development plan; whether direct consultation took place with frontline SNAs; and if she will provide details of the consultation process. [47165/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy department published the first Special Needs Assistant (SNA) Workforce Development Plan (the Plan) and a number of associated policy documents on the 3 June 2026.
The SNA workforce has grown significantly in recent years and now comprises almost 25,000 staff across primary, post-primary and special schools. Built around five strategic pillars, the Plan recognises the vital contribution SNAs make to supporting children and young people with additional educational needs and enabling their full participation in school life. It sets out a clear framework to strengthen and support SNAs through enhanced professional development, greater role clarity, workforce sustainability measures and stronger collaboration across school communities.
The Plan has been developed in close consultation and collaboration with stakeholders including SNAs. The Plan was supported by five separate working groups comprising a wide range of stakeholders which met on 55 occasions, providing input from a number of perspectives. These stakeholders include frontline SNAs, school management bodies, Fórsa (the recognised trade union which represents SNAs), the National Parents Council, the Children’s Rights Alliance and HSE.
A SNA Stakeholder Group was also established with eight frontline SNAs from various education settings. This group met 5 times with my department to provide feedback on proposals.
In preparation for the Plan my department conducted focus groups with 310 frontline SNAs. The SNA Learning and Development Focus Group Report includes findings and recommendations and is available on www.gov.ie.
In December 2024 my department convened webinars to provide an update on progress on the Plan which were attended by 1,065 frontline SNAs.
A national survey of SNAs was also completed to ensure all SNAs were given the opportunity to input to the development of the Plan. More than 13,000 SNAs responded to the survey providing valuable information on which to base policy decisions. The report on the survey is available on www.gov.ie.
In September 2024 Minister Naughton met with 14 frontline SNAs to discuss issues around their role and duties and in March 2026 Minister Naughton and I met with 23 frontline SNAs to discuss progress on the Plan. These engagements are in addition to the many SNAs and other staff and students we meet in the course of our work.
As part of broader consultation on the Plan my department also conducted focus groups with principals and deputy principals, and with teachers. A consultation with children and young people on the role of SNA also provided valuable input. Reports with findings and recommendations from these research initiatives are available on www.gov.ie and on the SNA information hub.
In addition, my department conducted several bilateral meetings with stakeholders including 12 with Fórsa, the trade union representing SNAs.
In addition, I meet SNAs at various engagements over the course of my work, such as school visits, conferences, launches, meetings and so on. Such engagements allow for opportunities to discuss issues facing SNAs in their work and how best we can all work together to ensure SNAs are fully supported and empowered in their important role.
All this research, meetings and consultation with SNAs and other stakeholders fed into decision making and directly influenced the final text of the Plan and associated published documents.
I am pleased that the Plan and the associated documents have now been published and I look forward to working with SNAs, schools and stakeholders to implement the actions set out in the Plan.
