Special Needs Assistants: Statements Seanad Éireann — 2026-03-04 ============================================================ Gareth Scahill (FG), Nominated by the Taoiseach The Acting Chair is very good at that himself. The Minister is very welcome to the Chamber once again. The key point I want to begin with is that special needs assistants are an essential part of our education system and the Government is committed to ensuring that children who need support in school continue to receive it. Across the country every day, SNAs work alongside teachers and special education teachers to support children with additional care needs. Their work helps children participate in school life, gain independence and build the confidence they need to learn and grow. Parents see that impact at home, teachers see it in the classroom, and students experience it directly through the supports and reassurances SNAs provide. That is why it is important that we deal with this issue carefully, responsibly and, above all, as the Minister said herself, factually. There has been a great deal of concern and uncertainty in recent weeks about the SNA allocations and I understand this concern. When families hear that changes might affect supports for their children, it is entirely natural that they worry. SNAs themselves, who dedicate their working lives to supporting students, have also been understandably anxious about what changes might mean for their roles. However, it is also important that we clarify exactly what decisions have been made. Last week, the Government agreed a number of important measures that provide certainty for schools, parents and SNAs. First, as the Minister said, there will be no reduction in SNA allocations for the 2026-27 school year. Second, any school that was due to receive additional SNA resources will receive them. Third, schools that have been notified of reductions will now retain their existing allocation. To support these decisions the Government has allocated an additional €19 million to the Department of education to maintain these supports. This means that SNAs currently working in schools will remain in place next year, providing continuity and stability for students who depend on them. In fact, the number of SNAs in our schools will continue to grow. This September, almost 25,000 SNAs will be working in Irish schools alongside almost 22,000 special education teachers, supporting children and young people with care needs. The figure of 25,000 SNAs is an increase of 45% since 2020. That is a significant investment in inclusive education and a clear demonstration of the Government's commitment to supporting students with additional needs. However, it is also important to understand the broader context of the SNA scheme. The scheme was originally designed to support students who have additional care needs, helping them access education safely and effectively. Over time, as awareness of special education needs has increased and more students are being supported in mainstream education, the role of the SNA has expanded in practice in many schools. While the expansion often reflects the dedication and commitment of SNAs and teachers working together to support students, it has also created some confusion about the precise role of the SNA and how supports should be allocated. At the same time, the evidence is clear that the SNA scheme remains hugely valuable. It has helped schools meet the care needs of students with disabilities and has played an important role in enabling many children to attend mainstream schools. The challenge, therefore, is not whether SNAs are needed, because clearly they are. The challenge is ensuring that the system continues to operate fairly, so that supports are directed to the students who need them most, while also supporting the professional workforce that provide those services. That is why the Government has taken the decision not only to maintain current supports for the coming school year, but also to pause the current review process so that further work can be done. During this period, three important areas will be progressed. First, the work will continue on a comprehensive SNA workforce development plan, ensuring that the profession continues to be supported, valued and developed into the future. Collaboration on that will be done with the union, as the Minister said. On the Fórsa website today, I found that Fórsa endorsed the SNA workforce development plan as far back as 1 December 2023. It was great to see the commitment on that. Second, a redeployment scheme will be developed so that where needs change over time, supports can be allocated more effectively across schools. This was also something that was welcomed by Fórsa as being long overdue but welcome. It was announced on 24 April last year. Third, the Department will advance changes to the circular that outlines the role of the SNA, bringing clarity for schools, parents and SNAs themselves about the responsibilities and expectations associated with the role. I am sure we have all had the opportunity to go through Circular 30/2014. It is great to see that this is going to be reviewed now to give more definition on that particular role. These steps are about ensuring that the system works better for everyone involved - students, families, schools and SNAs. It is also important to address one particular claim that has been circulated, that is, the suggestion that the current decision is simply a temporary pause and the same situation will arise again next year. That is not an accurate reflection of what is happening. The measures taken by Government are designed to provide stability now, while allowing time to develop a more considered and collaborative approach to the future of the scheme. The work will not be done in isolation. It will involve engaging with unions, education stakeholders and the wider school community. Ultimately, everyone involved in this discussion shares the same objective of ensuring that children with additional needs are supported in the best possible way in our schools. When we look at the reality of our schools today, we see thousands of dedicated SNAs working with care, professionalism and commitment. We see teachers and special education teachers working closely with them to support students in every aspect of school life. We see children who are thriving because of these supports. They are gaining independence, building confidence and participating fully in education. The key point remains the same: special needs assistants are a vital part of our education system. The Government recognises their value and the importance of their work and is committed to ensuring that the supports they provide continue to be available to the students who need them. By providing certainty for the coming school year, investing additional resources and taking the time to develop a stronger long-term framework for this scheme, we are ensuring that the essential supports continue to serve students, families and schools across the country. --- Source: Houses of the Oireachtas. Licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). The Official Report is revised after first publication; the fetch timestamp below identifies the version quoted. Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-03-04/debate/main Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:43+00:00 Sitting date: 2026-03-04