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THE GOVERNMENT HAS announced that 800 new Special Needs Assistants will be available for schools at the beginning of the school year.
A further 140 are also expected to be allocated between September and December.
This will bring to 15,000 the number of SNAs working in schools – a 42% increase on 2011.
The government states that it now invests €524m in SNAs annually.
“The aim of this Government is to ensure that children with special educational needs can be supported to fully participate in schools and fulfil their potential,” said Education Minister Richard Bruton.
“Special Needs Assistants play a key role in ensuring this and I would like to firstly take this opportunity to pay credit to the fantastic work that they do.
“More children with Special Educational Needs are participating than ever before and we are investing more than ever before to support this.
In 2018 my Department will invest in the region of €1.75 billion in special education, almost one fifth of the entire education budget and 39% increase on 2011.
Last October, SNAs voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action over the delay in assigning allocations for the 2018 school year – with the announcement from the Minister earlier this year.
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This was already announced months ago. Just a case of trying to put a good news stpry out there ago for about the 5th time. What the government needs to be doing is providing better security and working conditions for SNAs. They do an incredible job, but they’re often treated as servants in schools. They have very little job security as well.
I hate to say it, but I genuinely don’t believe it. A vital part of our vulnerable children’s education and I can’t see 800 bring enough. I really hope my scepticism is proven wrong and I hope our children who have been denied an SNA finally do get that extra help and security.
A step in the right direction, however cynical we may be about it. The numbers should never have been cut in the first place.
SNAs are stretched to the pin of their collar everyday. I work in a school where the SNA works with 8 different children on a daily basis. Just trying to give as many children as possible a little extra support. The SENO shrugs when you argue the case for more SNA hours. Our SNA is worth her weight in gold.
The NCSE allocation for the forthcoming year still hasn’t been announced. Until this happens, soundbites such as the above are worthless to SNAs.
Election imminent.
How many of these positions are going to be full time & how many are going to be a few hours. More than likely the SNA will be shared with 3 or more children in different classes. If the principal doesn’t have an amazing relationship with the SENO then the chances of a school getting an SNA are just impossible. But in schools where there is a politician involved then I bet that school gets everything. There are some principals who are not worth the space in the school & only care for their own job not the SNA’s job. SNA’s go over and above the call of duty. They should be treated with more respect, by some schools & the department of education.
@bings: everything you say is true. Some SNAs are treated in the most appalling manner by their principles, the dept. and also by some teachers. Many educators need to behave more respectfully towards their colleagues.
@bings: principals also have the authority to assign SNAs wherever they see fit. So SNAs assigned to a school for students in a special class (where I work) can be taken and reassigned to students in the mainstream.
Much of this is natural growth due to increasing numbers of children enrolled in schools…there will still be a shortfall of resources. Most children will still have to fight to get an SNA and if they do it will most likely be shared access.
Vote yes and in 20 years there will be no SNAS.
@Alex Carroll: not enough referendum articles for you??? F off
@Alex Carroll: Grow up!!
About time. One question though – do we have sufficient trained SNA’s to fill these extremely demanding and dedicated positions in Ireland ? – are we respecting the work they do appropriately enough to retain them in this country ?
@wattsed: currently you are considered qualified having completed the Junior Certificate. Training courses are available but not compulsory
New Circular relevant to SNAs
Circular 0034/2018 – Recruitment of Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) – Supplementary Assignment Arrangements for the 2018/19 school year. Click here to view the full Circular: http://bit.ly/Circular34-2018
This circular will have a significant impact on SNA recruitment
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