The Minister for Education Mr. Richard Bruton tasked the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) to undertake a comprehensive review of the special needs assistants scheme.

Essentially what the review will focus on is whether the SNA scheme continues to meet its purpose as set out in circular 0030/2014. It will look, too, into the training levels of SNAs along with qualifications in other areas.

The review will also focus on the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection in January 2016.

IMPACT were asked to nominate four SNAs from across primary, post primary, special schools and a mainstream school with ASD units. The nominees met with the NCSE on Monday October 10^th and answered a range of questions specific to both the scheme and the various school settings.

It is important to note that the report produced by the Joint Oireachtas committee chaired by Senator Mary Moran was published in January 2016 and some of its recommendations were pertaining to continuous professional development (CPD) and the need to review the entry requirements of SNA’s going forward.

IMPACT has been informed that the NCSE will be requesting a meeting with the union’s Deputy General Secretary Kevin Callinan and Assistant General Secretary Barry Cunningham in the very near future to partake in the review.