Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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1072. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the safeguards that are in place to ensure that redeployment does not result in SNAs repeatedly being treated as the “last in” in every new post under the SNA redeployment scheme. [41692/25]

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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1073. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if there will be a cap on the number of redeployments an SNA can undergo, or a time limit on their probationary status in a new school. [41693/25]

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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1074. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the maximum distance an SNA may be required to travel if redeployed to a different school under the redeployment scheme for SNAs. [41694/25]

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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1075. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills what happens in a situation where a SNA cannot realistically travel to the new school offered under the SNA redeployment scheme; and if they cannot travel, whether they remain in their current school. [41695/25]

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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1076. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills in circumstances where an SNA with ten years’ service in a school and is redeployed to a different school with SNAs who have less than ten years’ service built up, whether the transferee will have seniority. [41696/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1072, 1073, 1074, 1075 and 1076 together.

Work to develop a Special Needs Assistants (SNA) Redeployment scheme is ongoing. This important policy initiative will ensure that competent, knowledgeable and experienced SNAs are retained in our schools, building capacity in the workforce and enhancing the service to children with special educational needs.

Undertaken in conjunction with work on the first SNA Workforce Development Plan, the SNA Redeployment scheme will be operated by the National Council for Education (NCSE). For the first time, it will allow SNAs in posts which may no longer be required for reasons such as falling enrolments, reduced care needs or changing demographics, to be redeployed to a school which has a vacant post.

It is intended that the SNA redeployment scheme will commence for the coming school year providing an opportunity to redeploy SNAs as the need arises for the start of the 2026/27 school year. The SNA redeployment scheme does not impact recruitment for this coming September.

Arrangements for the SNA Redeployment scheme are not yet finalised and my department continues to engage with stakeholders on provisions in the scheme. Details of the SNA Redeployment scheme will be published on the NCSE website when this work is completed.