Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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14. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to address outstanding concerns of SNAs in view of rejection by members of a union (details supplied) of the workforce development plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53897/26]

Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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SNAs are very dedicated members of our school community who work very hard with our most vulnerable children. However, many have legitimate outstanding concerns following the publication of the new circular and the workforce development plan, WDP. Will the Minister of State tell me his plans to address outstanding concerns of SNAs in view of rejection by members of a union of the workforce development plan, and will he make a statement on the matter?

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy. By way of background, the number of SNAs working within the education system has grown significantly to support the increasing number of students with special education needs, both in mainstream schools and in special schools and classes. By the end of this year, there will be approximately 26,000 SNAs in our education system.

In recognition of the importance of the SNA role, the Department established the SNA workforce development unit and on 3 June 2026 published the first SNA WDP. Built around five strategic pillars, the plan recognises the vital contribution SNAs make to supporting children and young people with additional educational needs and enabling their full participation in school life. It sets out a clear framework to strengthen and support SNAs through enhanced professional development, greater role clarity, workforce sustainability measures and stronger collaboration across all school communities. The actions set out in the SNA WDP were developed over a period of more than two years through extensive engagement between the Department of Education and Youth, Fórsa and other stakeholders. Direct stakeholder consultation on the plan included: focus groups with SNAs, teachers and school leaders; consultation with children and young people; a survey of SNAs with which more than 13,000 SNAs engaged; and a number of online webinars with SNAs and school leaders.

I note the outcome of the ballot by members of Fórsa to not accept the plan. While I am disappointed by this outcome, the Department remains committed to constructive engagement with Fórsa and available to engage in relation to these matters. The Department continues to work with all stakeholders to achieve sustainable improvements for the SNA workforce in pursuit of an education system that is of the highest quality and where every child and young person feels valued and is actively supported and nurtured to achieve his or her full potential.

Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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I am very aware of and appreciate the work that has gone into this in recent years, but the local bargaining agreement being off the table now is a matter of serious concern and insult to SNAs. That pay increase should have been protected and maintained, irrespective of the ballot outcome on the new plan. Will the Minister of State reverse this decision to allow talks to continue in good faith?

SNAs rejected the plan because they felt more and more was being put on them without adequate recognition or compensation. There remains uncertainty around when hours will be completed, the additional time that SNAs will be required to be on site, and the impact this may have on opportunities to supplement their income, such as the bus escorts after school. There are also concerns around redeployment, such as insecurity of fixed-term contracts following redeployment and the loss of seniority. SNAs receive no additional payment for State examinations, no extra personal vacation, EPV, days for the summer programme and no allowances for working in special schools, DEIS schools or Gaelscoileanna. At the same time, they remain excluded from important decision-making processes despite the plan's emphasis on collaborative planning. All of these issues highlight a fundamental lack of respect that remains unaddressed by the plan.

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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I cannot emphasise enough the respect that the Minister, Deputy Naughton, and I have for special needs assistants and the contribution they make to education. In March, we met the SNAs to have further engagement and consultation with them and to understand their roles. The workforce development plan is the first significant piece of work that has been done to plan for SNAs, not just in the here and now, but into the future. Huge consultation and engagement has taken place on this.

However, the Department received official confirmation from Fórsa towards the end of last week, and the Department has written back for further engagement. We are open to continuing dialogue because we fully respect and appreciate the role of the SNA right across the education system in allowing young people to achieve their full potential. The key note here is the Department remains open to discussion with them to engage further.

Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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I do not question the Minister of State or the Minister's respect for the SNAs, but the Department needs to show that respect. The trust of the SNAs has been severely damaged following the scandal last February. It may have played a significant role in the ballot outcome, as well as years of being undervalued in the system. The community of SNAs simply does not have reason to trust the bona fides of the Department. Yes, huge consultation has gone on, but we need to go back to the negotiating table and put together a plan that SNAs can get behind. We need meaningful consultation with them. They need to be heard and their legitimate fears and anxieties need to be addressed. We need to get this right and we need to truly back our SNAs. They need to be a bigger part of this conversation.

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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There has been huge engagement by the Department on the development of the workforce development plan over the past two years. A large amount of engagement and meetings were held. It is the first workforce development plan. There was concern regarding redeployment. The circular and all of those documents were worked through and co-designed very carefully with the SNAs in mind. We wanted to ensure that we understood the concerns of the SNAs.

The Department has written back this week to confirm that it remains committed to constructive engagement with Fórsa and is available to engage on these matters. That is the communication we have sent back to Fórsa and that is the commitment we can give the Deputy. We remain committed to constructive engagement with Fórsa, the union representing the SNAs, because we value the role of SNAs across the education system and the commitment and work they provide to allow children with additional needs to avail of a fully functioning education system.

All of us across the House accept and appreciate the role of the SNA, and I am deeply committed to further engagement.