Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 June 2026
336. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of special needs assistants redeployed between schools in each of the past five school years; the number anticipated to be redeployed under the new allocation model; her views on the impact of redeployment on continuity of support for children with additional educational needs.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47229/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraYou may be aware that my department published the first ever Special Needs Assistant (SNA) Workforce Development Plan (the Plan), a landmark roadmap for the future development.
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 was developed following extensive engagement and consultation with stakeholders across the education sector and sets out high level objectives and policy developments under five key pillars.
I. Review and development of the SNA role.
II. Establishment of a quality framework.
III. Establishment of an SNA learning and development programme.
IV. Supporting SNA recruitment, retention and diversity.
V. Development of a communications strategy.
In addition, the Plan includes the following key outputs:
I. A new circular on the role of the SNA developed in collaboration with stakeholders including SNAs, school management bodies and Fórsa, the trade union representing SNAs.
II. An SNA Redeployment Scheme.
III. A review of the SNA employment contract.
The SNA Redeployment Scheme will be operated by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) supported by the Department of Education and Youth. Until now there was no formal redeployment scheme in place where SNAs who are surplus posts can be redeployed to another school with a vacant post.
Eligible SNAs will be identified for redeployment and offered positions during the active period in the 26/27 school year and those SNAs who accept an offer will commence their new employment in September 2027.
The SNA Redeployment Scheme builds on the existing supplementary assignment arrangements (SAA) set out in DEY Circular 44/2026.
I would like to confirm that no more than one SNA will be redeployed from any one school in any single year. This approach reflects the feedback that my department received from SNAs, from parents, and school communities regarding the potential for sudden or significant changes in staffing levels following future reviews.
The SNA Workforce Development Plan aims to ensure that the SNA workforce is in a position to respond to emerging and changing needs to facilitate the best outcomes for students with special educational needs. The redeployment scheme will play an important role in this, helping experienced SNAs to continue supporting children and young people as needs change.
The SNA Redeployment Scheme strengthens support for students and schools. It facilitates experienced SNAs to stay in the education sector ensuring they can continue to build on and share their skills and experience with other SNAs, students and school communities.
These measures will support and enhance the path towards inclusion in our schools. It is envisaged that the redeployment of SNAs will maintain capacity in the workforce thereby generating the potential for better outcomes for students with special educational needs.
Further updates, including more information on the SNA Workforce Development Plan can be found here: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/campaigns/special-needs-assistant-sna-workforce-development-plan/, and on the SNA Information Hub on gov.ie: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/publications/special-needs-assistant-sna-information-hub/.
