The new proposed new public service agreement, Building Momentum, includes a commitment to a review of the special needs assistants’ (SNA) contract. This would be the first opportunity to renegotiate the SNA contract for over 15 years.

The proposed deal requires the education department to consult with Fórsa about the possible updating of the SNA contract, including the appropriate use of the contracted 72 hours. These were introduced under the 2010 Croke Park agreement, when they replaced an earlier contractual liability to work twelve days during school holidays.

Fórsa’s head of education, Andy Pike, said SNA contract requires modernisation in several areas, including the obligation to be available for 72 hours for SEN-related duties.

“This is because the SNA role has changed since 2005, and continues to develop on foot of initiatives like the NCSE review of the SNA scheme, the roll-out of the schools inclusion model and the front-loading of SNA allocations,” he said.

Andy also said the pay measures set out in the deal would be of particular value to SNAs and other lower paid staff.

“The progressive nature of the increases is very relevant to SNAs as it means the percentage value of this is far higher than the headline figure. If accepted, SNAs would see total percentage increases of 6.4% at the 1st point of the scale, 5.3% on mid-point and 3.9% at the top of scale,” he said.

SNAs and other eligible Fórsa members will receive details of voting arrangements next week. Find out more HERE.