Review has cut 1,600 special needs posts

MORE than 1,600 special needs assistant (SNA) posts have been cut from pupils with disabilities in a review that is not yet complete, Tánaiste Mary Coughlan revealed last night.

But, she said, 920 of the posts were made redundant because the child the SNA had been assigned to was no longer attending the school.

The remaining 733 SNA jobs went where it was felt the pupils’ care needs had been reduced.