SNA boost wins cautious welcome
by Bernard Harbor
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IMPACT has welcomed the recent announcement of a 7% increase in the number of special needs assistants (SNAs), but warned that a continued expansion of the service is required over the coming years to meet growing demand and respond to demographic changes.
IMPACT official Barry Cunningham said: “The increase of 860 in the number of SNAs in the 2016-2017 school year is very welcome, but the demands on the service are continuing to outpace the resources available. We are also pleased that the allocations have been published earlier this year, which will reduce the uncertainty that staff, schools and parents have experienced in recent years.”
IMPACT highlighted this and other issues in a recent submission to the minister, which also called for immediate action on the inadequate recruitment of special educational needs organisers, who are responsible for SNA allocations.
The union also demanded a stronger emphasis on the development of the SNA role, including access to continuous professional development. To this end, it called for the rapid implementation of the recommendations of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection’s report on the role of the special needs assistant.
See the 2016-2017 allocations here.
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