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Press release

Ministers Helen McEntee and Michael Moynihan announce new Special Needs Assistants Redeployment Scheme

Minister for Education Helen McEntee and Minister of State with responsibility for Special Education and Inclusion, Michael Moynihan have today confirmed that work is underway on a redeployment scheme for Special Needs Assistants (SNAs).

The SNA Redeployment Scheme will be operated by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) and for the first time, will allow SNAs in posts which may no longer be required for reasons such as falling enrolments, reduced care needs or changing demographics, to be redeployed to a school which has a vacant post.

Minister McEntee said:

“I am delighted to see the SNA Redeployment scheme coming into being. There are over 23,000 SNAs working in schools across the country; they are at the heart of our schools, both mainstream and special education schools. Thousands of students across the country benefit from their skills, their knowledge and their experience on a daily basis.

“It is crucial that experienced SNAs can be redeployed to a school where a vacant post arises, allowing them to stay in the sector and ensuring they can continue to share their skills and experience with children and young people with significant care needs.

“This Scheme will increase job security for SNAs, and encourage prospective SNAs to enter the workforce. Crucially, the scheme will benefit children and school communities by ensuring that the SNA workforce is agile, and in a position to respond to emerging needs.

“This Scheme is a testament to the government’s firm commitment to supporting children and young people with special educational needs through fair and timely access to SNA support.”

This initiative is undertaken in conjunction with ongoing work on the first SNA Workforce Development Plan scheduled for publication later this year and supports the objective of an enhanced SNA service which delivers the best outcome for children with significant care needs in our schools.

Minister Moynihan said:

“SNAs play such a key role as part of the school community in providing a meaningful and positive school experience for children with special educational needs. As I have said previously, SNAs are integral to how children with additional needs are supported in our schools.

“The SNA Redeployment Scheme will further bolster how we support children and schools by ensuring SNAs can stay within the workforce and do what they do best in supporting children with additional needs.

“It is a priority for me and this government to ensure appropriate supports are in place to facilitate attendance and participation by all children in school. The skills and experience which SNAs accrue through their work supporting children with special educational needs are a significant asset in the pathway to achieving inclusion in the education sector.”

John Kearney, CEO, NCSE said:

“This SNA Redeployment scheme will not only facilitate allocation of SNA support where it is most needed but will also build capacity in the SNA workforce. The scheme ensures valuable skills are not lost as the level of need shifts between schools.”

More information on the SNA Workforce Development Plan can be accessed here.

Notes

  1. The number of special needs assistants (SNAs) has grown exponentially over recent years. Budget 2025 provides for a further 1,600 posts which will see the SNA workforce exceed 23,000.
  2. SNAs are allocated to schools as a school-based resource. Principals and/or board of managements deploy SNAs within schools ensuring that students with the greatest level of need receive the greatest level of supports.
  3. Where a school considers it has insufficient SNA support to meet the needs of its students an application can be submitted to the NCSE requesting a review of its allocation. Detailed information on the NCSE's SNA review process is published on the NCSE's website at www.ncse.ie
  4. The allocation circular for SNAs in mainstream schools will be published shortly and this circular will advise all schools on their SNA allocation for the 2025/2026 school year. It will also reference this redeployment scheme.
  5. The Special Needs Assistants Workforce Development Unit was established in 2022 and adopts a strategic approach to SNA policy development with the objective of developing an enhanced SNA service which delivers the best outcome for children with special education needs in our schools.
  6. Work on the first Special Needs Assistant Workforce Development Plan is ongoing, with an expected publication date of September 2025. The Plan will introduce policy developments under the following five broad headings:

– Pillar 1 – Review and development of the SNA role

– Pillar 2 – Establishment of a Quality Framework

– Pillar 3 – Establishment of a SNA Learning and Development Programme

– Pillar 4 – Supporting SNA Recruitment, Retention and Diversity

– Pillar 5 – Development of a Communications Strategy

7. The scheduled publication date for the SNA Workforce Development Plan is September 2025.

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