Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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59. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if there is a distinction between emotional support and behavioural management in relation to Circular 0030/2014; the supports available for children with emotional support needs that is, overwhelm, sensory overload and so on; to clarify clearly what is considered primary care needs and what is not; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57514/25]

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.

Circular 30/2014 sets out the department’s policy in relation to the Special Needs Assistant (SNA) scheme. Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) play a vital role in meeting the primary care needs of students with special educational needs in our schools. Principals/board of managements deploy this school-based resource to meet the care support requirements of the children enrolled whom SNA support has been allocated. This ensures schools remain able to provide flexible arrangements in how the SNA support is utilised on a day-to-day basis.

Circular 0030/2014 sets out information around the primary care needs that SNAs normally provide support for including assistance with feeding, administration of medicine, assistance with toileting and general hygiene including catheterisation, assistance with mobility and orientation and non-nursing care needs associated with specific medical conditions. Circular 0030/2014 also outlines that provision of SNA Support should not be considered as a first response for the management of behaviour. SNA support should only be provided where behavioural management strategies have not been successful to date and where it is demonstrated how access to such support can assist with ongoing planning and intervention for the child. Schools are required to show evidence of the use of a variety of approaches to behaviour in all applications to the NCSE.

My department has been steadily building the level of SNA support in our education system. This school year there will be over 23,000 SNAs allocated to schools, 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. Budget 2026 provides for a further 1,717 SNA posts which will bring the total number of SNA’s to almost 25,000 by the end of 2026.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible for allocation of SNA posts to schools and in this capacity has reviewed and notified school allocations for the 2025/26 school year based on the care needs of the enrolled students. If a school believes 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 provides support through the local special educational needs organiser (SENO) who is available to discuss deployment of SNA support. NCSE in-school support is also available to schools to offer further guidance and support. Further information is available on the NCSE website.

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.