Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire
Ceist:93. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the number of SNAs currently employed. [26571/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 25 May 2022
Ceisteanna (93, 94)
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire
Ceist:94. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the estimated full-year cost of employing one additional SNA. [26572/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 93 and 94 together.
The NCSE has responsibility for planning and coordinating school supports for children with special educational needs including the allocation of SNAs and reviews. The Department does not have a role in making individual school determinations.
Budget 2022 provides funding for an additional 1,165 SNAs (in 2022) to provide support to children with special educational needs, which will bring the total number of SNAs to 19,169 at the end of December 2022. This will represent an increase of 81% since 2011 at which time 10,575 were provided.
When a school has been allocated an SNA, the Board of Management, as the employer, is responsible for filling the vacancy and the decision on whether to employ a full time SNA to fill a full time post or to employ an equivalent number of part time SNAs rests with the employer.
My Department acts as paymaster to over 3,700 schools whose Boards of Management are the direct employers of the SNAs in those schools. SNAs in the Education and Training Board sector are employed and paid by the ETBs. Information of the number of people employed to fill the posts allocated is not available.
The annual current cost at entry of an additional Special Needs Assistant is €30,001 including employer PRSI. SNA salary rates are contained in circular letter 0009/2022 and can be accessed gov.ie - Revision of Salaries for Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) with effect from 1 February 2022 (www.gov.ie)
Question No. 94 answered with Question No. 93.