Special Needs Assistants: Statements
Seanad Éireann — 2026-03-04
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Eileen Flynn (IND), Administrative Panel

I am just going to follow on from Senator Black. I was privileged to serve on the Committee on Disability Matters with the Minister of State as the Chairperson. I remember his passion for equality in education, especially for people with additional needs. I would welcome a review of the SNAs. Language is really important and when we talk about special education, what kind of stigma is that? I would love to look at changing the name of SNAs. It is something the education committee is currently looking at. We will talk to the SNAs themselves but that is important. A review of SNAs is critical, but not a review to cut SNAs from schools. If anything, we need more SNAs. SNAs make the difference in schools between inclusion and isolation for many children.
I am a qualified SNA. I remember talking about this at the Committee on Disability Matters. An SNA is seen as someone who has done a six-week course and that is it. They go into the classroom and support a child. Yesterday, I went into Ballyfermot College, which I graduated from with that qualification. We undermine SNAs whereas we should recognise the SNA as a profession. We should value the children that SNAs work with. One of my wee girls is in a small rural school. I have dyslexia so I am trying my best to get her assessed for that. She gets extra support from one of the teachers. We have come a long way in Irish society when it comes to children with additional needs. As far as I know she does not have additional needs, thank God. I am very lucky. SNAs deliver care, education and, in some cases, a safe space for children with additional needs.
The Minister of State has responsibility for disabilities. We have a good person who is willing to work with SNAs. I know that from being on the Committee on Disability Matters with him. It is important that we look at a review of SNAs and speak to the workers on the ground speak and to the parents. As Senator Black rightly said, it is about better outcomes. I know better than many people in this Chamber that while we all have access to education, being successful within the education system is a horse of a different colour. You need those supports to be able to come out the other side of it with a qualification.
I worked in St. Dominic's Secondary School in Ballyfermot for nearly two years. I remember the young woman I worked with who did not have additional needs but she did have challenging behaviour. It was important for me to be able to work with her on a one-to-one basis as she was having big problems at home. It is important that we are able to help support young people in our education system to not just access education, but to be successful within our education system.

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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