Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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680. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the expected timeline for completing the SNA workforce development programme to provide clarity on their role and career paths; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30565/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) make a valuable contribution to our school communities through the provision of additional adult support to enable students with significant care needs attend school.

I can confirm that work on the first SNA Workforce Development Plan is at an advanced stage, with substantial progress already made.

The plan will introduce policy developments which will bring clarity and direction to the SNA service. This will include a revised circular on the role and duties of the SNA and a revised circular on the SNA employment contract.

The five key areas that the plan will address are:

– Pillar 1 - Review and development of the SNA role

– Pillar 2 - Establishment of a quality 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

Research and analysis which was completed under Phase 1 of the plan includes:

• focus groups with SNAs, school leaders earlier and teachers.
• the first national survey of SNAs which received 7,401 responses.
• Consultation with students to include the voice of the child in the plan.
• Webinars to update the SNA workforce on progress to date
• A literature review to assist with policy development on the role of the SNA.

The Steering Group, consisting of high-level management in my department and external experts, who oversee the work on the plan has met a number of times. The SNA and other stakeholder group, along with the working groups established under each of the five pillars have made significant progress to date in their ongoing work to consider a range of SNA related policy matters.

My department remains committed to delivering this plan on schedule later this year, and to continued engagement with stakeholders to ensure that SNAs are equipped to provide the highest standard of care and inclusion for students in our schools.

Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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681. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of additional special education teachers and special needs assistants she intends to hire to provide greater support to students and schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30566/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs.

Budget 2025 has provided for, amongst other things, 400 new special classes and 300 new special school places. It will also increase our special educational posts by 768 special education teacher and 1,600 special needs assistant (SNA) posts nationwide.

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 (SET) posts for the next school year have recently been provided to schools and SNA allocations are currently being confirmed by the NCSE to schools. The NCSE also publish SET and SNA allocations on their ncse.ie/set-hours-and-sna-allocations

Denise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein)
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682. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will ensure that a child (details supplied) will be able to avail of an appropriate school place this coming September; if she is satisfied that progress is being made to ensure there are enough school places for those with additional needs in the north Dublin area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30569/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs.

The NCSE is, in the first instance, the primary body responsible for the matter the Deputy has raised. I have forwarded this issue to them for their attention and direct reply.

Deputies are also welcome to raise such queries with the NCSE directly through their dedicated Oireachtas query line at oireachtasqueries@ncse.ie.

Through the accelerated provision of additional special class and special school places over recent years, there are now just over 28,000 students enrolled in special classes and special schools. 2,700 new places are being created in 2025 and these, together with the over 1,200 existing places which will become available due to children and young people moving on from primary schools and post primary schools, will mean that there is close to 4,000 places available for the coming school year. The NCSE has engaged in a process with parents and schools to identify children requiring a place for the 2025/26 school year and the 3,900 places available should meet the need that exists.

Of the 400 new special classes places provided for in Budget 2025, 399 of these classes have already been sanctioned for the 2025/26 school year. Of these 98 are in County Dublin, 79 at primary and 19 at post primary level. This will add to the 602 special classes currently in operation in the county. There are also 40 special schools in Dublin with approximately 2,600 students enrolled. Two of the five new special schools for the 2025/26 school year will open in Lucan and Belmayne also.

The NCSE continues to engage and support schools to ensure admission process are initiated as quickly as possible and remain available to support and advise parents through the admission process.

My department and the NCSE are committed to ensuring that sufficient special education placements remain available for children with special educational needs.