Education minister cancels St Patrick's Day visit to South America amid SNA controversy

Hildegarde Naughton was expected to travel to Chile and Argentina but as confirmed she will not now travel

A protest outside Cork City Hall was one of many nationwide against a Government review into SNAs last week. Picture: Noel Sweeney

Education minister Hildegarde Naughton has pulled out of her St Patrick’s Day trip to South America as the special needs assistant (SNA) controversy continues.

The Government was forced to cancel a review into SNAs last week and allocate an additional €19m in funding following significant backlash from schools, parents, and unions following letters sent to schools suggesting they would be losing SNA positions.

The Government leaders agreed last week that schools reviewed by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) and allocated additional resources will receive their SNA cohort in the upcoming school year.

Ms Naughton was expected to travel to Chile and Argentina as part of the Government’s St Patrick’s Day programme of events.

However, her spokesperson confirmed to the Irish Examiner that she will not travel.

“The minister has made the decision to remain in Ireland next week,” she said.

“Significant consultation is required to advance a number of important policy measures, including the SNA workforce plan and redeployment circular. This is her singular priority.

The planned St Patrick’s Day visit to Chile and Argentina will go ahead with junior justice minister Niall Collins travelling in her place, the spokesperson said.

Mr Collins was due to travel to the United Arab Emirates in April, but acknowledged on Tuesday that this trip was unlikely to go ahead due to the ongoing conflict that has broken out in the Middle East in recent days.

The Government's U-turn on SNAs last week came following significant criticism from the opposition, schools, unions, and parents over letters sent by the NCSE to schools advising that their allocations would be cut.

The Government rejected that it was "kicking the can down the road" and would be facing a similar situation next year.

Ms Naughton said a workforce development plan and revised circular on the role of SNAs are required before the NSCE review allocations for the 2027/2028 school year.