Departmental Circulars
Dail Éireann — 2026-05-28
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Hildegarde Naughton (FG), Galway West

I am glad the Deputy raised this issue because we are increasing the number of SNAs. There are 24,896 SNAs in our schools. By next September we will have over 26,000 SNAs. Between this year and next year, we have funding for 3,000 SNAs. We will be continuing to invest in our special needs assistants. They value and provide support for our children and students, particularly children coming into primary school and those transitioning from primary to post-primary level. Making sure the resource, which is the SNA, is moving with the young person is absolutely key. The Deputy is correct that the class teacher and special education teacher are key here as well but the SNA plays a key role. When teachers do student support plans the SNA will feed into that. That is the important role they play in the social, emotional and behavioural, as well as the primary care needs of our young people. We want to make sure we are not only validating them but recognising the important role they play. That is why the new workforce development plan, and the circular will reflect that through co-design and engagement with the sector.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-05-28/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-09-21T01:01:08+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-05-28