Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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486. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of places available on SNA courses in Irish universities; and the number of graduates of these courses for each year they have run. [11084/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Currently there are no undergraduate programmes in Irish Universities leading to a qualification specifically to become a special needs assistant (SNA). Existing programmes to become trained as a SNA are typically at level 5 and 6 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) and are conducted in the further education and training sector. The educational requirements to become a SNA are outlined in circular 0051/2019, available here.

The national online training programme for Special Needs Assistants, in UCD was developed for existing SNAs as continuous professional development, which aims to 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 pilot training programme which will inform the Department of Education ongoing policy considerations relating to future training options for SNAs.

The Department of Education advised that approximately 1,300 SNAs have completed the course to date and it is intended that the programme will be delivered to up to 3,500 SNAs over the four year scheme.