Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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401. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will consider requesting the NCSE to adopt a policy of assumption of allocation of a special needs assistant at secondary level in cases in which a child had one at primary level. [47874/21]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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The Special Needs Assistant (SNA) scheme is designed to provide schools with additional adult support staff who can assist children with special educational needs who also have additional and significant care needs.

Such support is provided in order to facilitate the attendance of those pupils at school and also to minimise disruption to class or teaching time for the pupils concerned, or for their peers.

SNA support is provided to help children to develop their independent living skills. It is important that pupils do not become over dependent on adult SNA support nor unduly isolated from peers. Where care needs diminish and the goal of independence is achieved, the level of SNA support required by the child should be reduced.

A key aspiration for pupils with special educational needs is that they will, on completion of their school-based education, be able to graduate as young independent adults in so far as this is possible.

SNAs are not allocated to individual children but to schools as a school based resource. The deployment of SNAs within schools is a matter for the individual Principal/Board of Management of the school.

The NCSE has responsibility for planning and coordinating school supports for children with special educational needs including the allocation of SNAs and reviews. The Department does not have a role in making individual school determinations.

Where school management have concerns regarding their allocation of SNA support, this matter should be discussed with their SENO.