Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 September 2022
1024. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education the number of additional special needs assistants that have been hired since the formation of the Government by county in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44100/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe number of Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) in our schools is at unprecedented levels.
Budget 2022 provides for an additional 1,165 SNAs to provide support to children with special educational needs. This will bring the total number of SNAs to 19,169 by the end of 2022. This represents an increase of 81% in SNA numbers since 2011 when 10,575 SNAs were working in our schools.
The availability of SNAs is critical to the inclusion of students with significant care needs in education and in school life.
SNAs carry out very important care functions for children with care needs in the school. The purpose of their role is to enable children with significant care needs to attend school and participate in school activities to the maximum possible extent.
The purpose of the SNAs in the classroom is to address the immediate physical care needs of the student and encourage their independence. Over time, with their assistance and support, students will become more independent and self-autonomous in these matters.
SNAs are whole school resources to be allocated to meet the needs of those students in greatest need.
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.
Where circumstances change during the course of the 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 ncse.ie/special-needs-assistants
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.
The NCSE publish statistics on SNA allocations to primary, post primary and special schools in tabular form, by county, for each school year, this information is available on their website, www.ncse.ie.
As the question relates to the allocation of supports by the NCSE the question will be referred to the NCSE for their direct reply.
