Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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781. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a person who has been employed as a special needs assistant with a qualification other than a Further Education and Training Awards Council qualification (details supplied) can be considered suitable for ongoing employment as a special needs assistant in a school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46897/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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My Department's Circular 0044/2014 sets out the current minimum educational requirements for appointment as a Special Needs Assistant (SNA).

People appointed to SNA posts are required to have:

1. A FETAC level 3 major qualification on the National Framework of Qualifications, OR

2. A minimum of three grade Ds in the Junior Certificate, OR

3. Equivalent

The above are the minimum qualifications required for appointment as a SNA. The actual requirements for a post will vary depending on the specific needs of the children and the school to which the SNA is to be appointed. When recruiting an SNA school authorities must list in the advertisement any specific competencies and/ or requirements to meet the special educational needs of the pupil(s).