NCSE chief apologises for handling of 'botched' SNA review

25.02.2026.

The chief executive of the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has apologised for the handling of a "botched" review of how special needs assistants are allocated which causes uproar among parents and educators.

John Kearney told the Oireachtas committee on education: "The NCSE duly notes and apologises for any and all upset and uncertainty caused to children, parents, special needs assistance and schooling communities in recent weeks. This was never our intention."

In February, a review of how special needs assistants are allocated at schools across Ireland was paused after it caused concern and outrage among parents, teachers and SNAs.

The number of SNAs at around 580 schools was reviewed by the NCSE, and a third were told that the number would be reduced from September.

The Government agreed not to reduce the number of SNAs at any schools from September, but in schools where the NCSE said more SNAs were needed, they will be allocated.

The decision will cost an extra €19 million in funding for the Department of Education.

Tánaiste Simon Harris described the initial communication about the review as "botched".

Mr Kearney said 60% of schools contacted had no change or additional allocations of SNAs.

He said 60% of those losing SNAs had a reduction of one post, 27% two posts and seven schools in total were told they were losing more than three SNAs.

"In hindsight, a better change management engagement program with those schools should be taken on board."

Senior civil servants in the department of education also appeared before the committee.

Angela Corcoran, who is responsible for a unit within the department dedicated to the reform and development of the role of the SNAs, said: "We want to sincerely apologise for the upset and uncertainty caused to the parents of those needing special needs assistance and school communities in recent weeks. This was never our intention."

Sinn Fein's Darren O'Rourke repeatedly asked if the panel accepted the issue is not about redeployment, but about "children whose need hadn't changed at all having SNA support removed".

Helen Walsh, from the NCSE, said "children's needs change on a weekly to a monthly basis", adding: "Those needs are seen and responded to by a team, so the SNA is not on their own."

She also denied accusations that schools had received "one line" emails telling them of the decision.

She said a letter had been sent informing schools that reviews were taking place, and another letter was sent out informing them of the outcome.

But she said "we can improve on that letter, absolutely hand on heart, we can improve on that letter".

Speaking about how Special Educational Needs Organisers (Senos) working for her organisation assess schools' needs, Ms Walsh said: "We don't allocate individual SNAs to individual children. We allocate to a school, so there's always that capacity within a school to be able to move SNA posts around. We have to get a full lens nationally, across the country."

She said if the panel making the decisions is "in any doubt", they "ask the Seno for their expert input to see if we are missing anything?".

"So it is an absolutely robust process to make sure we don't get it right wrong," she added.