Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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690.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to outline the current allocation model for SNAs to schools; if she is satisfied that this model serves schools and pupils effectively; when it is intended to review the allocation model; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32041/24]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this government. It is also a key priority 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.

The support special needs assistants (SNAs) provide plays 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 allocate SNAs to schools as a school based resource and not to individual children. The deployment of SNAs within schools is then managed by the individual principal/board of management. This is done with the understanding that SNAs should be deployed in a manner which best meets the care support requirements of the children enrolled for whom SNA support has been allocated. This method allows schools greater flexibility in how the SNA support is utilised.

Since 2011, the number of SNAs in schools has increased by 113%. It is important that any future SNA allocation process continues to be based on students' care needs. Work is continuing on developing an allocation model that will accurately reflect and is responsive to the care needs of these students.

The NCSE have published the SNA allocations for the 2024/25 school year. For ease of reference these allocations are broken down by school type and are available on the NCSE's website. In 2024, the number of SNA posts in our schools will increase by 744, this will mean we will have over 21,500 SNA’s who are focused wholly and exclusively on supporting these children.

The NCSE is responsible for planning and coordinating school supports for children with special educational needs including allocation of SNA posts and reviews of same. Any school who believes that they have insufficient SNA resources to support the care needs of their pupils can apply to the NCSE for a review of its SNA allocation.

A school that has any such concerns should contact their local NCSE special education needs organiser (SENO) whose details are available on the NCSE website to discuss their concerns and for support with the application process. Each case is individually managed and following the outcome of the review, the SENO is available to the school to discuss the optimal deployment of SNA support within the school. In addition, NCSE in-school support is available to schools for further guidance. Detailed information on the NCSE SNA review process is published on the NCSE website.

My department has been working with the NCSE to streamline the review process for SNAs and the NCSE will be issuing revised guidelines on SNA reviews to schools at the start of the coming school year.

This more refined process seeks to reduce the administrative burden on schools, ensure timely reviews and develop strong relationships between schools and SENOs. All of this is with the objective of delivering the best support to children with significant care needs in our schools.