Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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43. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the ballot for industrial action by special needs assistants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44855/17]

Declan Breathnach (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Question No. 43 is in the name of Deputy Ruth Coppinger and Deputy Paul Murphy has been nominated.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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I ask the Minister about the impending industrial action by special needs assistants who have voted by 97% for industrial action. I understand it relates to the allocation by the National Council for Special Education. For four years in a row it has been very late - up to July - in allocating which schools would get how many SNAs etc., which obviously has a hugely disruptive impact on the schools, but particularly on the SNAs who do not have a guarantee of work or where they will be working and whether the issues can be resolved.

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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It is a good opportunity to clarify the matter. IMPACT’s decision to ballot its members on industrial action at this time is surprising in light of a development over recent months. When I announced the appointment of an additional 975 SNAs for allocation to schools between September and December this year, I recognised that we needed a better system for allocation in future years. At the time I said that I hoped to have a more robust system using the National Council for Special Education prediction models to inform the normal estimates allocation.

As a Government we have managed to achieve that. As part of a package of education measures in the recent budget, I announced that almost 1,100 additional SNA posts will be available for allocation to schools in 2018, more than 960 of which will be allocated from September 2018. Under the old model, this decision would have been made in mid-2018. Making that decision now will facilitate earlier allocations of SNAs to schools for the coming year.

There have been very substantial year-on-year increases in SNA posts in recent years. The most recent budget announcement will bring the number of posts to more than 15,000, an increase of 43% since 2011. Mechanisms have been introduced under the Haddington Road Agreement that give SNAs greater stability in their employment and these continue to operate under the Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020. A comprehensive review of the SNA scheme, currently being undertaken by the NCSE, includes IMPACT as part of the consultation process.

It is disappointing in light of these developments that industrial action is being contemplated which would have a detrimental effect on children with special educational needs who depend on the care support provided by SNAs in order that they can participate in education.

While a decision on industrial action is a matter for IMPACT, the union is a party to the Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020, which contains clauses on industrial harmony. The union will be aware of commitments and potential implications in that context.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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I thank the Minister for the answer. I fully support the SNAs in the action they have voted for and are contemplating. It is not acceptable for them not to know if they have a job to return to and they are unable to apply for redeployment in the event that they do not. What they are requesting is very simple. I ask the Minister to give the simple commitments that in future SNA allocations will be announced in sufficient time, which means no later than May, to allow the supplementary assignment panel and distribution of available hours to serving staff to operate to full effect. That seems very simple and would allow people to be able to plan their lives. Can the Minister give that commitment? They are also looking for arrangements in respect of job security on a par with teachers and other public servants and an agreed procedure for dealing with SNA grievances.

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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That is why I am a bit surprised. The announcement I made in the budget was to allow the NCSE to make that announcement. In previous years the NCSE did the evaluation and then had to await a Government decision to approve the sanctioning of the money. Now we have sanctioned the money in October for next year, meaning it is in a position to do that.

There is a grievance procedure which to my knowledge is working satisfactorily. In addition a panel system was introduced in 2013. Prior to the introduction of that panel, a substantial number of SNAs, approximately 400, were being made redundant each year because the children for whom they were caring no longer needed those supports in the school and only 10% of them were getting redeployed. Under the panel we have introduced, fewer SNAs are losing their posts - about 54% got new posts and others having gone on the panel opted for redundancy. We have been acting under the existing agreements to meet the issues raised by IMPACT.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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If the Minister can give a commitment that this is resolved once and for all and it will not be happening again after happening for four years in a row, I would say that SNAs would be relieved to hear that. For the past couple of summers I have been contacted by school principals and SNAs affected by this.

On the more general issue of allocation of SNAs, I welcome the increase in SNAs. It is largely keeping up with demographic changes and increases in the number of children with special needs. Over the summer, some worrying kites were flown about the special education needs budget being too large. Thankfully the Government pulled back from making any cuts. With that background, there is rightful concern that the Government may attempt to cut back, which would be completely unjustified.

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I am pleased to tell the Deputy that we meet SNA requirements far beyond demographic needs. The demographic needs would be of the order of 2% or 3%. Since 2011, we have increased the number of SNAs by 43%. For example, at second level we have quadrupled the number of special classes for children with special needs. We have also massively expanded them at primary level. This has been an area of very significant expansion of provision. I am very proud we are in a position to do that. Obviously we need to ensure the service meets the needs of children and that is why a review is being undertaken. It is an area of high priority.