Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 June 2013
133. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review the case of a special needs assistant (details suppled) in County Kildare who needs to take time off from their contract for study purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31418/13]
View answerA career break scheme for Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) was agreed with school management bodies and trade unions representing SNAs in 2012. A circular setting out the regulations and procedures of that scheme issued in June 2012. The scheme was generally in line with the teacher's scheme and one of the items it catered for was for those who wished to pursue further educational opportunities. An example of this is the online Higher Diploma in Arts in Primary Education course with Hibernia College. This intensive course requires students to engage in periods of classroom observation and teaching practice amounting to a total of 18 weeks over two school years. As a result, an SNA is required to be away from duty on many occasions (between unpaid and paid leave types), possibly impacting on the care, educational and welfare needs of special needs pupils, which as you will understand, must take precedence over all other considerations.
The above-mentioned circular, therefore, requires SNAs who are undertaking this course to take a career break for the school years in which they are required to spend periods away from their SNA post on school observation/teaching practice for the purposes of completing the course. It should also be noted that in addition to the Circular which issued in June 2012, a letter issued to the Deputy Programme Director of the Higher Diploma in Arts at Hibernia College on 19 July 2012 enclosing a copy of the circular and explaining its impact for SNAs.
