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Special Educational Needs Staff

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 July 2016

Wednesday, 20 July 2016

Questions (125)

Dara Calleary

Question:

125. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to alter the manner in which seniority is determined for special needs assistants (details supplied); if he will explain the current system for allocation of hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22930/16]

View answer

Written answers

Circular 0059/2006, which is available on my Department's website at www.education.ie, sets out the factors that should be considered in determining the seniority of special needs assistants employed in primary and post-primary schools. The Board of Management/ETB determines seniority based on the special needs assistant's date of commencement of duty as an SNA in the school/ETB.

In addition, my Department has recently issued a circular regarding the supplementary assignment arrangements for SNAs (Circular 35/2016 can be accessed via the link http://www.education.ie/en/Circulars-and-Forms/Active-Circulars/cl0035_2016.pdf).

The supplementary assignment arrangements for SNAs were established on foot of proposals brought forward by the Labour Relations Commission when the Haddington Road Agreement was being agreed. These supplementary assignment arrangements for SNAs continue to operate under the Lansdowne Road Agreement, and both unions representing SNAs, namely SIPTU and IMPACT, have signed up to that agreement.

Circular 35/2016 details the supplementary assignment arrangements for SNAs for the 16/17 school year and also outlines that where a school/ETB has an additional allocation of SNA hours/posts, then that additional allocation of hours/posts must be offered to any existing part-time SNAs in that employment, in order of seniority, before the employer has recourse to recruitment. This circular builds on the introduction of a supplementary assignment panel process for SNAs which was introduced three years ago, giving SNAs the alternative of redeployment instead of redundancy, giving SNAs greater stability and a better chance of a full-hours contract.

The purpose of these arrangements is to facilitate eligible SNAs who are being made redundant by one employer in filling SNA vacancies that may become available in another school/ETB. Furthermore, it means that, before an employer opts to recruit a further person as an SNA(s), they must ensure that all existing part-time SNAs in their employment, in order of seniority, have been offered a full-time position in the school or, in the case of ETBs, a full-time position in a school within the ETB scheme.

The only exception that can be made to this rule is where a school/ETB has a determination in writing from the NCSE/SENO stating that their allocation must be split amongst a specific number of SNAs and/or stating that the allocation must be implemented in a specific fashion to address the care needs of the pupil(s). In cases where this exception is being invoked by a school/ETB then this written determination from the NCSE/SENO must be provided to the existing part-time SNA(s) affected. It should also be noted that the position in relation to the allocation and distribution of Infant days, which is a distinct and specific feature of the SNA scheme, remains unaffected.

If an SNA believes that Circular 0035/2016 regarding the allocation of extra hours to current SNAs was not adhered to in their school i.e. they were not furnished with information regarding either a written determination from the NCSE/SENO and/or the invocation of the Infant Days principle then they should contact the dedicated e-mail address (snasupplementpanel@education.gov.ie) and my officials will ensure that the relevant information regarding the matter is provided to them by their employer.

The Supplementary Assignment Panel arrangements are reviewed by my Department on an annual basis in consultation with the school management bodies and the two unions representing SNA staff (IMPACT and SIPTU).

Finally, as already outlined, my Department has set up a dedicated e–mail address with all queries in relation to the SNA Supplementary Assignment Panel and any queries in respect of the operation of the Panel can be directed to this dedicated e–mail address: snasupplementpanel@education.gov.ie

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