Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North-West, Fianna Fail)
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833. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when the budgetary cap will be removed for SNA reviews; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19058/25]

Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North-West, Fianna Fail)
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834. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to increase the budget allocations for special needs assistants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19059/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 833 and 834 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.

The number of SNAs available for allocation has continued to increase annually resulting in a significant increase in the number of SNAs posts employed by schools.

Budget 2025 provided for 1,600 SNAs, the largest number ever allocated, which will bring to 23,000 the number of SNAs in our schools. This is a 32% increase on SNA supports since 2020.

The NCSE continue to prioritise the full allocation of the additional 1,600 SNA posts provided in Budget 2025 to schools to ensure that those children with the highest level of need get the highest level of support

SNAs are a key support in mainstream schools and in special schools and classes which have doubled in number in recent years. There are also 16 new special schools in the last five years bringing to 31,000 the number of specialist places available for September 2025.

The NCSE manages the allocation of the SNAs to schools and it is the responsibility of the NCSE to ensure that these resources are allocated to the children with the greatest level of need.

Each year schools are advised of their SNA supports, which indicates that the NCSE will undertake reviews to ensure that SNAs are allocated to the children with the greatest level of need.

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.