Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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510. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide details on any changes in the allocation process for schools for special needs assistants for 2025/2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17173/25]

Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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511. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if people who were assessed since the beginning of this year could be impacted in the allocation process for schools for special needs assistants for 2025/2026; when pupils assessed can expect a decision on their assessment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17174/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 510 and 511 together.

This government is fully committed to supporting children with special educational needs to fulfil their full potential and the Programme for Government makes a number of commitments to deliver on this objective. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs.

By the end of the year there will be over 20,800 special educational teachers and 23,400 special needs assistants (SNAs) in our mainstream classes, special classes and special schools. This will mean we will have over 44,000 teachers and SNAs working in our education system committed to supporting and nurturing children with special educational needs, enabling them to achieve their best outcomes and reach their full potential.Allocations of special education teaching posts for the next school year have recently been provided to schools and, in line with previous years, SNA allocations will be confirmed by the NCSE to schools in the coming weeks.

We have been steadily building on the number of SNAs in our education system. At the end of the 2024 school year there was over 22,000 SNAs in schools Since 2020 the budget for special education has increased from €1.9 billion to €2.9 billion for 2025. That represents a 52% increase in the last 5 years.

Budget 2025 includes an additional 1,600 special needs assistant (SNA) posts nationwide. This is the highest ever annual increase. For the 2025/26 school year there will be over 23,000 SNA’s supporting children and young people with care needs in our education system.

The NCSE will continue this year to prioritise the full allocation of the additional 1,600 SNAs to schools, including to support up to 400 new special classes and 300 new special school places for this September from within the overall allocation budget.

The NCSE will ensure that all of the additional SNAs provided for by this Government will be allocated to ensure that those children with the highest level of need get the highest level of support.

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.