THE FIRST EVER workforce development plan for Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) will be brought to Cabinet later today.

Education Minister Hildegarde Naughton will bring the plan for the future development and professionalisation of the SNA workforce to Cabinet.

Documents outlining the contents of the plan are expected to be published this afternoon. The plan is to set out a framework to strengthen and support SNAs through enhanced professional development, greater role clarity, workforce sustainability measures, and stronger collaboration across school communities.

The Special Needs Assistant Workforce Development Plan has been formed after two years of research, engagement and consultation with SNAs and their representative bodies.

Its publication comes off 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. 

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,

The NCSE will again review SNA allocations at schools for the academic year starting September 2027.

At the tail end of this controversy, Naughton sought to quell tensions with the promise of a longer-term plan once the Workforce Development Plan, along with a new circular defining the role of the SNA and a redeployment scheme for SNAs.

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This follows on from a much-contested 2014 circular (which is essentially a policy document) that considered the SNA role was similar to that of a healthcare assistant.

In February, trade union Fórsa was hopeful the workforce development plan could produce findings on the professionalisation of the SNA role, in particular concerning a career progression path and professional recognition for SNAs.

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