Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

165. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on the ASD unit at a school (details supplied). [38427/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I can confirm to the Deputy, that the school in question has submitted an application for capital funding, under my department's Additional Schools' Accommodation (ASA) Scheme for extra accommodation to provide special education needs classroom's.

The purpose of the Additional Schools' Accommodation scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream and special education classroom accommodation is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year and where the need cannot be met by the school’s existing accommodation or at other schools in the area.

Since 2020, my department has invested in the region of €4.9 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 900 school building projects and with construction currently underway at approximately 300 other projects, which includes 30 new school buildings. These 300 projects currently at construction involve a total State investment of over €1.2bn.

I also announced earlier in the year that close to 90 projects, including 28 new school buildings, would be authorised to proceed from tender stage to construction over the course of 2024 and early 2025. In total, around €800 million will be invested in these projects under the department’s Large Scale Capital Programme and Additional Accommodation Scheme for essential classroom accommodation.

Between projects currently under construction and projects moving to construction in this latest phase, investments by the Department of Education are adding over 550,000 square metres of new and modernised capacity to our school estate.

This is a record level of investment in school buildings. It will expand the number of school places, significantly increase provision for special education and upgrade and modernise our school infrastructure. The impact of this will be felt in communities right around the country.

Officials from my Department have been engaging with the school Patron regarding additional building space for the school in question. The application from the school is currently being considered by my officials and once the assessment process has been finalised the school authority will be notified of the decision directly.

Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

166. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the measures that are being taken to ensure that special needs assistants (SNAs) receive the recognition and appreciation they deserve from schools and her Department; if she recognises that the current educational requirements for SNAs, set at three passes in the Junior Certificate, do not reflect the actual qualifications held by many SNAs; if she plans to officially recognise higher qualifications to ensure fair compensation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38436/24]

Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

167. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps she is taking to address the concerns regarding the low salaries and pensions of SNAs, and to ensure that their compensation reflects their qualifications and the critical role they play in the education system; the upcoming initiatives or resources that will be provided to support SNAs in their roles, particularly in light of the ongoing review of the SNA contract; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38437/24]

Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

168. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the way she plans to highlight and enhance the role of SNAs in the education of children with special needs, ensuring that their contributions are adequately recognized and supported; the mechanisms that are in place for ongoing communication and engagement with SNAs to address their concerns and incorporate their feedback into policy decisions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38438/24]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 166, 167 and 168 together.

I would like to thank the Deputy for his questions and assure him that I very much value the vital role that the 21,500 special needs assistants (SNAs) in our schools play in the successful inclusion of students with additional and significant care needs.

In order to ensure SNAs are supported to provide the most effective service to children with significant care needs in our schools, my Department has established an SNA Workforce Development Unit (SNAWDU) in order to ensure that sufficient time and attention is given to examination of the SNA role and any reform or development required. Work is progressing on the first Special Needs Assistants Workforce Development Plan with a scheduled completion date of September 2025.

The key areas that the plan will address are:

– Pillar 1 - Review and Development of the SNA role

– Pillar 2 - Establishment of a Quality Assurance Framework

– Pillar 3 - Establishment of a SNA Learning and Development Programme

– Pillar 4 - Supporting SNA Recruitment, Retention and Diversity

– Pillar 5 - Development of a Communications Strategy

The plan is being developed in direct consultation and collaboration with SNAs and other key stakeholders including school leaders, teachers, parents and students, giving all parties an opportunity to provide input and share views on the future development and direction of the SNA service.

Research undertaken for the plan includes focus groups with SNAs convened in May 2023 and the first national survey of SNAs earlier this year to which over 7,400 SNAs responded. The associated reports are available on the government website .

In response to direct feedback from SNAs my Department has developed a dedicated ( ) on the government website providing a repository of relevant information and resources for SNAs in one convenient online location.

SNAs are represented on each of the five working groups set up under each pillar of the plan. A dedicated SNA Stakeholder Group has also been established with representatives from a variety of school settings to provide direct feedback on proposals.

The work undertaken by the working group under Pillar 4 Supporting SNA Recruitment, Retention and Diversity includes an extensive review of the SNA contract of employment currently set out in Circulars 12/2005 and 15/2005.

I am pleased that SNAs along with other key stakeholders are actively contributing to the SNA Workforce Development Plan providing practical and strategic input with a view to delivering an enhanced SNA service to children with significant care needs in our schools.

In relation to the issues raised around SNA salaries and pensions, I can assure the Deputy that the Government remains committed to the delivery of quality public services and continues to approach public service pay in a balanced way that is reasonable and fair to both public servants and to the taxpayer.

This has been achieved through a series of national collective agreements, agreed between trade unions and the Government, applying across the public sector. The most recent Public Service Agreement (PSA), which was collectively agreed between ICTU and the Government was finalised on 26th January 2024, provides for several pay increases for public sector employees, including Special Needs Assistants, covering the period from January 1, 2024, to June 30, 2026.

Following implementation of increases under ‘Building Momentum’ and the PSA 2024 to 2026, from 1 October 2024, the starting pay for an SNA has increased to just under €30,000 and rises to a maximum of around €47,000.

SNA’s have also benefited from the application of an increase of €1,100 to the current long service increment point, raising the maximum pay level for a SNA, through Building Momentum’s ‘sectoral bargaining’ process.

There are further increases planned under the PSA of at least 5% between now and the summer of 2026. In addition, SNAs will have access to a local bargaining fund to deal with outstanding adjudications, commitments, recommendations, awards and claims.