Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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168. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a review of the number of special needs assistants will be carried out for a school (details supplied); to outline the recommended student-SNA ratio; the average SNA allocation per 100 students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40133/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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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, including the allocation of special needs assistants (SNAs).

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 important to remember that SNAs are allocated to schools as a school-based resource and are allocated based on the care needs of the students enrolled. All schools have been informed of their SNA allocation for the 2025/26 school year. 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 annual allocation of SNAs to each school over recent years is published and available on the NCSE website.

The NCSE has developed an appeal mechanism for schools that are not satisfied with the outcome of their SNA review. This process opened on 25 June 2025 to ensure that appeals can be finalised in advance of the coming school year, all schools have been notified of the appeals process. Details and forms are also available at the following link: .