Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 30 April 2014
132. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason for promoting special needs assistant courses when persons cannot get on the panel which is the requirement to get a job; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18771/14]
View answerThe detailed supplementary assignment arrangements for (Special Needs Assistants) SNAs for the 2013/2014 school year are set out in Departmental Circular 0037/2013 which issued on 1 July 2013 and which is available on the Department's website at the following address:
http://www.education.ie/en/Circulars-and-Forms/Active-Circulars/cl0037_2013.pdf.
With effect from 1 May 2013 once an SNA with a minimum of one year's service is notified by his/her employer that he/she is to be made redundant then he/she shall be deemed to be a member of a Supplementary Assignment Panel for SNAs. It should be noted that this does not prevent the person applying for SNA vacancies but employers are obliged to give precedence to applicants who are members of the SNA Supplementary Assignment Panel.In relation to training courses my Department does not promote any SNA training courses. The recruitment of Special Needs Assistants is a matter for the Board of Management of the school. It is a matter for the Board of Management to ensure that Special Needs Assistants are in a position to effectively meet the care needs of pupil/pupils for whom SNA support has been allocated in the school when appointing a SNA. Where specific training is required, the Board should liaise with the Health Service Executive in order to ensure that the HSE provides guidance and training that enables the SNA to meet the care needs of the pupil in an appropriate manner.
