Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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448. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on a policy issue raised by persons regarding the new proposed frontloading model for deployment of special needs assistant resources (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17412/22]

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, and with a view to developing their independent living skills.

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. SNAs should be deployed in a manner which best meets the care support requirements of the children enrolled in the school. It should be noted that not every student with a special educational need requires SNA support.

Where a school considers that it requires additional SNA support to meet the needs of its students, it can seek a review from the NCSE.