Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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343. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department has effectively capped SNAs staffing levels for secondary schools; and if any impact assessment has been taken regarding this measure. [31552/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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I know the central role that our SNAs play in the successful inclusion of students with additional and significant care needs in schools to enable them to achieve their best outcomes and reach their full potential.

That is why the number of SNAs available for allocation has continued to increase annually resulting in more SNAs than ever now being employed in our schools. Budget 2025 provided for 1,600 SNAs, the largest number ever allocated in a single year, meaning the total number of SNAs available in our schools in September will be 23,179. This is more than double the number of SNAs that were in our schools 10 years ago.

It is the role of the National Council for Special Education to manage the allocations of SNAs across the country and to ensure that all of the additional SNAs provided for by this Government are allocated to schools to support those children with the highest level of need so they get the highest level of support.

The NCSE now has a full complement of staffing so have the resources and supports to ensure they can do this work effectively and in a timely manner.

It is important that we continue to meet this need across our education system and as you know the Programme for Government commits to recruitment of additional SNAs to provide greater support to students and schools. We will continue to engage through the Estimates process to ensure that we can meet the needs of all children in our schools.

Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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344. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department requires schools to assign resources for academic year 2025/26 from their current complement of SNAs irrespective of increased need for SNA resources. [31553/25]

Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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345. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the instruction her Department is giving schools that do not have enough SNA resources to cater to the needs of their pupils. [31554/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 344 and 345 together.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs.

Special needs assistants (SNAs) play a central role in the successful inclusion of students with additional and significant care needs in schools. They help ensure that these students can access an education to enable them to achieve their best outcomes and reach their full potential. They are allocated to schools as a school-based resource. Principals/board of managements deploy SNAs within schools to meet the care support requirements of the children enrolled whom SNA support has been allocated.?This provides schools flexibility in how the SNA support is utilised.

The NCSE has now allocated all additional 1,600 SNA post provided for in Budget 2025 and informed school of their SNA allocation for the 2025/26 school year. If a school feels like it has insufficient SNA support to meet the needs of its students an application can be submitted to the NCSE requesting a review of its allocation. Detailed information on the NCSE's SNA review process is published on the NCSE's website ().

The NCSE can also make a local special educational needs officer (SENO) available to the school to discuss the deployment of SNA supports in the school and provide advice as to how to put these supports to the best advantage of the students. NCSE in-school support is also available to schools to offer further guidance and 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.

Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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346. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she is aware of the situation in a school (details supplied) where a pupil that will enter the school in September requires 2 SNAs but sanction has only been given for 1.5, with the recommendation that .5 be reallocated from another child; if this is the policy of her Department; if she considers this an outworking of the SNA cap; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31555/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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Special needs assistants (SNAs) play a central role in the successful inclusion of students with additional and significant care needs in schools. They help ensure that these students can access an education to enable them to achieve their best outcomes and reach their full potential. They are allocated to schools as a school-based resource. Principals/board of managements deploy SNAs within schools to meet the care support requirements of the children enrolled whom SNA support has been allocated.?This provides schools flexibility in how the SNA support is utilised.

The NCSE has now allocated all additional 1,600 SNA post provided for in Budget 2025 and informed school of their SNA allocation for the 2025/26 school year. If a school feels like it has insufficient SNA support to meet the needs of its students an application can be submitted to the NCSE requesting a review of its allocation. Detailed information on the NCSE's SNA review process is published on the NCSE's website ().

The NCSE can also make a local special educational needs officer (SENO) available to the school to discuss the deployment of SNA supports in the school and provide advice as to how to put these supports to the best advantage of the students. NCSE in-school support is also available to schools to offer further guidance and 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.