Roadmap for Special Needs Assistants Role Set for Cabinet Approval

A comprehensive Workforce Development Plan for Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) is slated for presentation to the Irish Cabinet today, aiming to professionalize and strengthen the role. The plan, developed over two years of extensive research and consultation with SNAs and their representative bodies, recognizes the vital contribution these assistants make to supporting children with additional educational needs.

A key component of the plan is a long-awaited redeployment scheme. This new procedure will provide a framework for SNAs whose roles may no longer be needed in certain schools to be transferred to schools experiencing vacancies. Delays in finalizing this redeployment agreement were a contributing factor to the controversy that erupted in February over proposed cuts to SNA positions in nearly 200 primary schools, which led to significant public outcry and a swift reversal of the planned cuts.

“

The workforce plan was the culmination of more than two years of extensive research, engagement and consultation, with SNAs and their representative bodies at the heart of its development.

Additionally, a circular is expected to be published that will further outline the role of the SNA. This comes after criticism from school principals earlier in the year, who argued that the criteria governing SNAs' duties were too narrowly defined. While SNAs are primarily allocated to assist with primary care needs like toileting, schools report that they are frequently required to support children with a wider range of secondary care needs, including behavioral support.

The SNA workforce has seen substantial growth, now comprising nearly 25,000 individuals across primary, post-primary, and special schools. The new plan seeks to provide SNAs with enhanced professional development, greater role clarity, workforce sustainability measures, and improved collaboration within school communities, aiming to strengthen support for both the assistants and the students they serve. There will be considerable interest from schools and parents regarding whether the scope of the SNA role will be expanded.

“

They said the plan recognised the vital contribution SNAs make to supporting children and young people with additional educational needs, and set out a clear framework to strengthen and support SNAs through enhanced professional development, greater role clarity, workforce sustainability measures, and stronger collaboration across school communities.