Fórsa is due to meet with senior officials from the Department of Education and Skills in order to establish the status of the NCSE report on the SNA service, and to give the union’s preliminary views on the report’s recommendations.

In a letter to the department last month, Fórsa’s deputy general secretary Kevin Callinan said the union was increasingly concerned about confusion among schools and other stakeholders about the status of the review and its various recommendations.

Kevin said the union had been made aware of instances where schools have said they intend to implement some of the recommendations, including those to do with contractual terms of employment, in circumstances where there has been no discussion with the union or its members.

He added “Fórsa is keen to avoid any unnecessary confusion and disruption within the school system” and sought a meeting in order to establish the department’s plans for implementing the review’s recommendations.

In a reply to Fórsa, the department confirmed that work is underway to assess the costs associated with implementing any recommendations that may subsequently be approved by the Government.

The department confirmed that work is also underway on the development of a new model of resource allocation, as recommended by the NCSE, and said it expected the Minister will bring proposals to the Government in the coming months.

Responding to the department last week Kevin said, “At this stage what is required is a Departmental letter making the current status of the review clear to all stakeholders and outlining that the implementation of aspects of the review should not take place in advance of central direction from the Department.”

He said it would also be helpful for the department to advise that implementation would only follow the provision of information - and appropriate consultation - with the relevant staff interests, including Fórsa.

Preparations for a meeting with department officials are currently underway.