Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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148. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when previous graduates from the SNA national online training programme will have their award accredited retrospectively; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62553/22]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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I would like to thank the Deputy for the question and would like to advise the following:

The national on-line training programme for Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) is a major educational initiative, which will enhance the knowledge, skills and expertise of SNAs who are crucial to the inclusion of students with additional care needs in education. This is a high-quality and innovative pilot training programme which will inform ongoing policy considerations relating to future training options for SNAs.

The SNA programme was procured by my Department for a four-year period and was designed by UCD and the National Council for Special Education. The procurement process sought the delivery of an unaccredited training programme with a mechanism to accredit the programme in the future, should accreditation be sought. To date approximately 1300 SNAs have completed the course and it is intended that the programme will be delivered to up to 3,500 SNAs over the four year scheme funded by my Department of Education.

It is intended to accredit the programme as a Level 6 Special Purpose Award on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ). UCD has advised the Department that work has commenced to accredit the programme under UCD’s standard programme approval procedures and to consider how previous graduates from the programme might have their award accredited retrospectively.

This pilot training programme is providing valuable information to the Department of Education and will inform ongoing policy considerations relating to future training options for SNAs. Reflecting the ongoing engagement with stakeholders on SNA issues my Department is committed to reviewing this programme after the four-year period has concluded. By the end of 2023, there will be over 20,000 Special Needs Assistants working in our schools and my Department is very aware of the continuing need to provide appropriate training and development opportunities with a view to supporting the inclusion of students with additional care needs in education.