Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 May 2024
197. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education if additional supports will be put in place for special needs assistants in schools to ensure that they either are not forced to sign on for social welfare during summer months and are paid year-round, or that their social welfare payments are more streamlined to ensure that there is no break in income between the end of the school year and the start of summer. [23469/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraBoards of Management of schools are the direct employers of Special Needs Assistants (SNAs). My Department provides Paymaster support to schools. The salary scale applicable to SNAs is determined by the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform. The current salary scales for SNAs are set out in DE Circular 0034/2024.
SNAs are usually contracted to work for a school year which begins on 1st September and finishes the following 31st August. As such, SNAs are paid on the basis of an annual salary scale.
An SNA would not be paid for the summer holiday period if they started any time after the first day after Christmas break and there is no indication that the SNA is returning to the same school on 1st September. The guidance on this is set out in Circular 0111/2007.
