The Daily Star Ireland
Starting September 2025, Ireland will implement a new redeployment scheme for Special Needs Assistants (SNAs), ensuring their continued employment even if their current positions are no longer available. This initiative, announced by Minister for Education Helen McEntee, aims to provide job security for SNAs and maintain consistent support for students with additional needs.
Enhancing Stability for SNAs
Under the new scheme, SNAs whose roles are affected by changes in school allocations will be reassigned to other schools with available vacancies, rather than facing redundancy. This approach seeks to retain experienced personnel within the education system, ensuring that their skills continue to benefit students requiring special assistance.
The Fórsa trade union, representing a significant number of SNAs, has welcomed this development, highlighting the increased certainty it brings to thousands of workers. Delegates at the union’s Educational Division conference in Galway expressed broad support for the announcement, viewing it as a positive step toward the professionalization of the SNA role.
Broader Educational Initiatives
In addition to the redeployment scheme, Minister McEntee outlined plans for a ‘Deis plus’ school support program, targeting areas with high levels of educational disadvantage. A key focus of this initiative will be addressing absenteeism, which has seen a significant rise since the Covid-19 pandemic, with some regions experiencing more than double the previous rates of students missing over 20 days of school annually.
Furthermore, discussions at the conference included calls for public sector pension provisions to be extended to school secretaries and caretakers, recognizing the essential roles these staff members play in the educational environment.
These combined efforts reflect a comprehensive approach to strengthening the support structures within Ireland’s education system, aiming to provide stability for staff and consistent care for students with special needs.
