Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Shutterstock/Monkey Business Images

Boost in numbers means there are now more special needs assistants than gardaí

An extra 115 special needs assistants will be available in January.

AN EXTRA 115 special needs assistants will be available in schools from January.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny said every child who needs an SNA should have one, which is why he said the government has been increasing the numbers over the last few years.

In total, there are now 13,015 SNAs working in Ireland, with Education Minister Richard Bruton stating that the spend on assistants now stands at €429 million.

“We now have more special needs assistants than we have members of the gardaí, or indeed doctors,” said the Taoiseach.

“If you like, it shows you the commitment of government to giving every child who has a particular assessed challenge or difficulty an opportunity to benefit from that.”

“The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) have advised me that they are making significant progress on their comprehensive assessment of the SNA scheme, aimed at providing better outcomes for students and maximising the impact of the State’s investment and I have asked the NCSE to provide me with regular updates,” said Bruton.

This government remains fully committed to providing the best possible results for the children and students in this area, and this process is the best way of ensuring that we deliver on that.

Schools will be told shortly by the NCSE what their SNA allocations for the remainder of the 2016/17 school year will be.

Applications for SNA positions for the 2017/18 school year will be open in early January.

Read: ‘If we had simply accepted that ageist foster parents rule, it would still be with us’>

Read: Renua’s new leader is optimistic about 2017 – just don’t mention the flat tax>

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
11 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Stephen Todd
    Favourite Stephen Todd
    Report
    Dec 28th 2016, 3:22 PM

    The headline reads as if we’re flooded with SNAs when we could probably still do with more. It just highlights our severe lack of Garda resources

    149
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Antoinette Mullen
    Favourite Antoinette Mullen
    Report
    Dec 28th 2016, 3:21 PM

    What is disappointing is the number that are full time posts. 13,000 plus SNA’s sounds great but a high number are working on fragmented hours from as little as 5-6 hours per week. That’s not a sustainable job.

    107
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Louis Jacob
    Favourite Louis Jacob
    Report
    Dec 28th 2016, 5:04 PM

    Totally redundant point. It’s like saying there are more teachers than tram drivers. God I hate enda.

    48
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Cranium
    Favourite Cranium
    Report
    Dec 28th 2016, 4:06 PM

    What a pile of steaming horse manure. The propaganda is strong in this one.

    45
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michelle Dermody
    Favourite Michelle Dermody
    Report
    Dec 28th 2016, 7:38 PM

    Not Every child who is entitled to an SNA receives one. They may receive “half of one ” as in part -time. Some SNA’s are forced to work around 3 or more children with very complex needs in schools and the reality is that they system becomes diluted and unefficient. A person csn not be in two places at once! So ENDA is lying again….

    36
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michelle Dermody
    Favourite Michelle Dermody
    Report
    Dec 28th 2016, 7:41 PM

    The system , inefficient and can. Text predictor doesn’t help!

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute P.J. Nolan
    Favourite P.J. Nolan
    Report
    Dec 28th 2016, 8:07 PM

    @Michelle Dermody:
    Don’t you mean that’s Enda’s fault as well?

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Linda Oreilly
    Favourite Linda Oreilly
    Report
    Dec 28th 2016, 7:53 PM

    Totally misleading…..I would image a large number of those are not full time…years ago when I worked as a SNA, a Seno decided that two children in Junior Infants should share a SNA….so the SNA asked her this question ‘If there is a fire, which child will I pick up, the one with mobility problems or the one who will bolt because I cannot carry 2′..made no difference they still had to share the SNA….

    it s all just spin.

    28
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Thomas
    Favourite David Thomas
    Report
    Dec 28th 2016, 4:08 PM

    Now ye know who to call if anyone is burgled

    17
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute SteveÓ
    Favourite SteveÓ
    Report
    Dec 28th 2016, 6:57 PM

    @David Thomas:

    Batman?

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Valthebear
    Favourite Valthebear
    Report
    Dec 29th 2016, 9:43 AM

    Actually being granted the services of an SNA for a child is very difficult and the process very arduous ans bureaucratic. More spin from the gov

    3
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds