IMPACT’s deputy general secretary Kevin Callinan said that while the announcement of an additional 365 SNA posts in last week’s budget was welcome, he hoped that the increase in numbers would help guard against a growing trend for the fragmentation of existing posts, with many SNAs losing out as their posts are reduced down to just a few hours a week. “The creation of these additional posts, alongside increases in the number of teachers, is good news for children entering education next year, and will be welcome news to their parents.

“While these new posts are a great addition to the service, individual SNAs have really suffered in the last couple of years as their posts are broken down into, in some cases, just a few hours a week. That’s not a good development for children who rely on the service, and it has made it impossible for many SNAs to make any kind of living from their work. I hope that the additional posts announced today can contribute to reversing this type of harmful work pattern” he said.

Restoration and income recovery

In a letter to the secretary general of the Department of Education and Skills, Mr Seán Ó Foghlú, Kevin said that the union had been reviewing SNA allocations since the commencement of the current school year, and was alarmed at the scale of the fragmentation of posts.

He said that in some cases SNAs had their hours and incomes cut. “It flies completely in the face of the principles underlying the Croke Park and Haddington Road agreements that individual public servants would suffer a loss of income as a result of the administrative practices being operated” he said.

Kevin added that the union regards the department as being in breach of public service agreements, and sought assurances that steps would be taken to restore working hours and income to members.