Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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1050. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for a breakdown of the distribution of the 1,600 new special needs assistant posts for new special classes, new special schools, and existing schools with increasing care needs or pending reviews by the NCSE, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41400/25]

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, including the allocation of special needs assistants (SNAs). The NCSE has advised my department that all schools have been informed of their SNA allocation for the 2025/26 school year.

Budget 2025 provided for 1,600 SNAs, the largest number ever allocated in a single year, meaning the total number of SNA posts available in our schools for the 2025/26 school year will be 23,179. This is more than double the number of SNAs that were in our schools 10 years ago. This will consist of 12,500 posts in mainstream settings, 10,600 posts in special schools and special classes and a further 68 pots attached to specialist projects such as Childcare Worker and Youth Encounter Projects.

It is open to any school which feels like it has insufficient SNA support to meet the needs of its students to submit to the NCSE a request seeking a review of its allocation. Detailed information on the NCSE's SNA review process is published on the NCSE website:

It is important that we continue to meet the need of children with significant care needs across our education system. The Programme for Government commits to the recruitment of additional SNAs to provide greater support to students and schools. We will continue to engage through the estimates process to build on our SNA numbers to ensure that we can continue to deliver 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.