Government to publish Special Needs Assistant workforce development plan

Issues round the allocation of SNAs to school caused a scandal for the Government earlier this year. File picture

The Government is set to publish the first ever Special Needs Assistant (SNA) workforce development plan, which is being brought to Cabinet on Wednesday.

Minister for Education Hildegarde Naughton will introduce the plan alongside a new circular outlining the role of SNAs in schools and a redeployment scheme.

The plan comes after two years of research, engagement, and consultation, which included the first national survey of SNAs with the Government indicating the plan has been “co-designed” with those working in the role every day.

It is understood the plan will be built around five specific pillars and will include details on SNA professional development and a “greater role clarity” along with workforce sustainability measures and collaboration across school communities.

Almost 25,000 staff are employed as SNAs across primary, post-primary, and special schools in Ireland.

Issues round the allocation of SNAs to school caused a scandal for the Government earlier this year, as it was forced into a U-turn as it signed off on an additional €19m to allow for extra SNA allocations without cutting back in other schools.

The plans to cut SNA allocations in some schools had prompted a significant backlash with the Government accused of ”gaslighting” parents and schools.

“It’s very hard to get an estimate on how many posts are being cut but certainly we’re hearing a lot of concern from the sector, and a lot of anger as well,” said Fórsa head of education Andy Pike at the time.

Mr Pike described the proposed cuts as “one more example of a litany of broken promises for special education".

Speaking before an Oireachtas committee a few weeks later, the chief executive of the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) John Kearney apologised for the handling of a "botched" review of how special needs assistants are allocated.

In the Dáil, Mr Martin said “well over” 8,000 additional SNAs has been allocated to schools since 2020.

“That's not cutbacks, that's expansion at an exponential rate, and there was huge growing need. We need to analyse that, reflect on that.” 

Mr Martin also said he supported a redeployment scheme for SNAs, like the one in place for teachers.

"From a Government perspective, we believe the building blocks should be in place. 

"First, the redeployment scheme, the workforce planning, a new circular as well. 

"In addition to that then, continuing to allocate resources to a needs-based approach."

In response to a parliamentary question last week, it was said this new plan would “through a co-created series of policy developments strengthen, clarify and offer clear direction and consistency to the SNA workforce”.