LAST UPDATE | 3 Jun

EDUCATION MINISTER HILDEGARDE Naughton has pledged that no school will see its Special Needs Assistant (SNA) allocation cut by more than one post per year from 2027 onwards.

It comes as the first-ever workforce development plan for Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) was approved by cabinet today. 

For the 2026/2027 school year, the government has already committed that no school will see its SNA allocation reduced – this commitment came after significant pushback to a plan to cut the allocation to a number of schools in February of this year.

Speaking to reporters at Government Buildings this afternoon, the minister said today was a “historic” day for the 25,000 SNAs employed in Irish schools.

She said the workforce development plan was co-designed with the input of SNAs, school leaders, parents, advocacy organisations and other key stakeholders. 

The plan sets out a framework to strengthen and support SNAs through enhanced professional development, greater role clarity, workforce sustainability measures, and stronger collaboration across school communities.

It has been formed after two years of research, engagement and consultation with SNAs and their representative bodies and has been welcomed today by the Fórsa trade union.

Its publication today comes alongside a new circular defining the role of the SNA, details of a redeployment scheme for SNAs and a review of the SNA employment contract.

‘This is a historic day for SNAs. It is the first time we will have an SNA workforce development plan that will include better training for SNAs, that will give them clarity around their own role, and it does go beyond primary care needs to core needs, ensuring that students are supported in relation to fostering their independence,” Naughton said.

She said that the documents today “clearly define” the role of the SNA. 

Uproar

Today’s announcement comes on the back of contentious plans to cut the number of allocated SNAs to around 180 schools announced earlier this year – plans that were rapidly rolled back by the government after outrage and protests.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is the statutory body responsible for the provision of special education and allocating supports for students with special educational needs. 

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It had examined schools availing of the work and support of SNAs and allocated additional resources to a number of schools at the expense of others. After the uproar and the subsequent rollback, it was decided that the schools that had been allocated additional resources would still receive them in September.

The measure was costed at an additional €19 million.

Today’s circular is the first since a much-contested 2014 circular (which is essentially a policy document) that defined the SNA role as similar to that of a healthcare assistant.

The SNA workforce has grown significantly in recent years, and there are now almost 25,000 staff across primary, post-primary and special schools.

With reporting from Jane Matthews