THE GOVERNMENT IS pausing a controversial review into how special needs assistants are allocated after major backlash.

More than 40,000 people have signed a petition to stop the potential loss of special needs assistant (SNA) posts after it emerged that hundreds of roles in mainstream primary schools could be cut from next September.

Trade union Fórsa said it has been contacted by schools around the country after they received notifications from the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) that their SNA allocations will be reduced for the next school year.

Minister for Education Hildegarde Naughton confirmed today that the review is now being paused.

“I have listened carefully to all of the issues raised by parents and school communities in recent days. I want to reiterate that there are no cuts to SNA numbers,” she said.

“I want to ensure that SNAs are with the children who most need their care. To that end, I am pausing the review of the SNA allocations.”

She said herself, Tánaiste Simon Harris and Taoiseach Micheál Martin are engaging to ensure the concerns raised are understood and children with special educational needs are fully supported.

Letters sent last week advised schools that posts will be lost from September. Fórsa believes more than 180 schools were notified, with reductions affecting an estimated 300 or more SNA posts.

Naughton said today that no further letters on SNA review outcomes will issue until engagements with the Tánaiste and Taoiseach have concluded.

Fórsa has welcomed the pause on SNA allocation review.

Andy Pike, Fórsa’s head of education, said: “This pause gives us an important opportunity to discuss a better way of planning and managing SNA allocations for the future.”

“The minister’s decision will be very welcome and will help ease anxieties around the possibility of SNA supports being removed from children in mainstream classes, who rely on that support to fully participate in their education,” he said.

“It is a significant step forward in recognising that the work of SNAs goes far beyond what is reflected in the current, outdated SNA circulars.”

He said part of the discussion that now needs to take place is an assessment of whether special education is adequately funded.