Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 May 2004
178 Ms O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Science if schools taking on special needs assistants are obliged to give preference to persons with appropriate qualifications; if his Department has drawn up guidelines or regulations in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13195/04]
View answerThe conditions of service for special needs assistants, SNAs, state that the educational requirements are that a candidate must have been awarded at least a pass or grade D in Irish, English and mathematics in the junior certificate examination, the former day vocational certificate examination or an examination of equivalent standard.
The responsibility for the recruitment and employment of SNAs rests with the board of management of the individual school. This responsibility extends to ensuring that all recruitment conditions, including those relating to education and health, are being complied with. The Deputy may be interested to know that my Department, in consultation with the education partners, is examining the conditions of service generally of SNAs.
