Labour ruling gives hope to unemployed SNAs

The Labour Court has ruled that special needs assistants who are made redundant as part of cutbacks should be placed on a register and given first offer according to seniority on any new posts which may arise.

Unions say the ruling will mean more parents will have confidence their children are being looked after by experienced staff.

Impact and Siptu, the unions representing special needs assistants (SNAs), took the case to the Labour Court seeking a system whereby SNAs could be redeployed to other suitable schools as required.