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:

Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this government. It is also a key priority for me as Minister for Special Education & Inclusion, for my department and for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).

The vast majority of children with special educational needs are supported to attend mainstream classes with their peers. Where children with more complex needs require additional supports, special classes and special school places are provided.

For 2023, the spend by my department on special education has been substantially increased by over 10% on last year, meaning that for 2023 my department will spend over €2.6 billion on special education. Further progress has been made in Budget 2024 where 26% of my department’s budget will be dedicated to providing supports for children with special educational needs, representing a 5% increase on Budget 2023.

This includes funding to support children with special educational needs in mainstream classes; funding for new special classes and new special school places; additional special educational teachers, special needs assistants (SNAs) and funding for the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS).

In 2023, the number of teaching and SNA posts in our schools will increase with an additional 686 teachers and a further 1,194 SNAs and in 2024 a further 744 teachers, and 1,216 SNAs will be added to deliver up to 2,700 new places for children with special educational needs. This will mean we will have over 41,500 qualified and committed people in our schools who are focused wholly and exclusively on supporting children with special educational needs.

SNAs play a central role in the successful inclusion of students with additional and significant care needs into mainstream education, special classes and special schools ensuring that these students can access education to enable them to achieve their best outcomes and reach their full potential.

The NCSE has the responsibility for planning and coordinating school supports for children with special educational needs including the allocation of SNAs.

SNAs are allocated to schools as a school based resource and not to individual children. The deployment of SNAs within schools is a matter for the individual principal/board of management of the school. SNAs should be deployed by the school in a manner which best meets the care support requirements of the children enrolled in the school for whom SNA support has been allocated.

It is a matter for schools to allocate support as required, and on the basis of individual need, which allows schools flexibility in how the SNA support is utilised.

All schools can apply to the NCSE for a review of their SNA allocation if it is insufficient to meet the needs of its students. Detailed information on the NCSE exceptional review process is published on the NCSE website. www.ncse.ie/application-for-sna-exceptional-review

My department's policy in relation to the SNA scheme is set out in Circular 30/2014. This circular clarifies the purpose of the SNA scheme i.e. to provide schools with additional adult support staff who can assist children with special educational needs who also have additional and significant care needs.

The circular provides details of the primary care needs for which SNA support will usually be provided and details the types of secondary associated tasks which SNAs may often perform. The circular is available at:

www.circulars.gov.ie/pdf/circular/education/2014/30.pdf.

My department has established a dedicated SNA Workforce Development Unit (SNAWDU) within its special education section, in order to ensure that sufficient time and attention is given to examination of the SNA role and any reform or development required.

The SNAWDU will adopt a more strategic approach to SNA policy development with the objective of developing an enhanced SNA service which delivers the best outcome for children with significant care needs in our schools.

In this regard the SNAWDU has begun work on establishing the first SNA Workforce Development Plan (SNAWDP). The plan will be developed over the next 2 years in consultation and collaboration with stakeholders including SNAs, school management bodies, unions, schools, parents and children. It is envisaged that the key areas that the plan will address are:

– Review and development of the SNA role, including a review of Circular 30/2014

– Establishment of a quality assurance framework

– Establishment of a SNA learning and development programme

– Supporting SNA recruitment, retention and diversity

– Development of a communications strategy to ensure optimum communication and collaboration with all stakeholders to achieve the vision of the SNAWDP

My department and the NCSE are committed to delivering an education system that is of the highest quality and where every child and young person feels valued and is actively supported and nurtured to reach their full potential.