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Special Educational Needs

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 10 March 2022

Thursday, 10 March 2022

Questions (96)

Joe Carey

Question:

96. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Education if the recruitment of special needs assistants is in line with the additional resources secured in Budget 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13326/22]

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Written answers

In light of the disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the introduction of the new Frontloaded Allocation Model for SNAs for students in mainstream classes in primary and post -primary schools was deferred for a further year to the beginning of the 2022/23 school year. 

In order to minimise disruption for schools, in the current circumstances, and to provide for continuity of allocations, the following arrangements for the allocation of Special Needs Assistants for mainstream classes for the 2021/22 school year were announced: 

- Existing mainstream class SNA allocations in schools on 30 April 2021 were maintained and automatically rolled over into the 2021/22 school year.

- No school received an allocation less than that which they had on 30 April 2021.

- SNAs currently in mainstream settings can continue in post for the 2021/22 school year in the normal way.

- Priority consideration was given by the NCSE to applications for increased support for the 2021/22 school year. In particular, applications from schools with no SNAs and developing schools were prioritised with determinations made before 30 June. Other applications were processed in order of date received.

- As in previous years, where circumstances change during the course of the 2021/22 school year that materially increase the level of care need in a school to the extent that the school can clearly demonstrate that it cannot be met within the existing SNA allocation, the school may apply to the NCSE for a review. Detailed information on the NCSE exceptional review process is published on the NCSE website https://ncse.ie/for-schools.

Budget 2022 provided for  an additional 1,165 SNA posts covering primary and post-primary, as follows:

- 574 to support students in new special classes

- 46 to support students in new special school places

- 545 to support students in mainstream classes  

The recruitment and appointment of Special Needs Assistants is a matter for the individual school authority.

Working is ongoing in terms of the SNA allocation for the school year 2022/2023 and consultation with the education partners will form a key component and details will be announced in the near future.

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