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Irish Independent
26-05-2025
- General
- Irish Independent
‘We waited, hoped and fought for this class. It's like a cruel betrayal' – parents frustrated after promised autism class is withdrawn
Today at 21:30 Parents who had been promised an autism class for their children say they are 'frustrated', 'let down' and 'heartbroken' after learning that it will no longer be proceeding. When a special class had been made available for Scoil Teampall Toinne in Ballyporeen, Co Tipperary, for September, Linda Meade and her husband Patrick Meade were over the moon. It meant their four-year-old son Reigan, who was diagnosed with autism last year, would get to go to the same school as his older brother and friends. After being informed that Scoil Teampall Toinne would have an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) class, Ms Meade refused the offer of a place at another school which would have catered for her son's needs. However, parents have now been told that the ASD class will no longer be happening. 'We live in the countryside where services and supports for children with additional needs are already few and far between,' Ms Meade said. 'We struggle for assessments, for therapies, for any kind of support. And now, a class that could have made a real difference is gone. 'How are we supposed to explain this to our children?' An email from the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) stated that the 'conditions under which the class was sanctioned had significantly changed'. 'The class was sanctioned based on an agreement with the school that they had permanent accommodation available for a special class to open in September 2025,' a NCSE employee told parents. 'Since then, the school have [sic] notified the department that rent will need to be paid on the accommodation and that a permanent build will be required. As a result, the sanction could not progress'. ADVERTISEMENT Learn more We are not asking for special treatment – we are asking for equal opportunities, for dignity, for the right for every child to be educated in a place that supports them While parents have been advised that the support of special needs assistants will be provided, they fear their children will end up being 'left behind'. Ms Meade said it was her understanding that a fee has to be paid for the building – which is located next to the main school – but she understood that the 'fee was very negotiable'. 'It doesn't make any sense,' she said. 'We have waited, hoped and fought for this class. Our children cannot wait years for services that should be basic rights. We are not asking for special treatment – we are asking for equal opportunities, for dignity, for the right for every child to be educated in a place that supports them'. 'This decision feels like a cruel betrayal,' she added. Josephine Sweeney's daughter, Eily (7), is another one of the children set to lose out. Eily is currently in senior infants at Scoil Teampall Toinne. While she has been able to manage with help from the SNAs so far, going forward she will need even greater support, which is why her mother was 'delighted' when she found out an ASD class would be made available. I cannot overemphasise the reaction Eily would have, impacting all areas of her life, and our entire family life, if she had to leave Ballyporeen to access the day-to-day assistance she needs 'One of the big things doctors said when Eily received her diagnosis is that they [students with autism] can manage for junior and senior infants, but once they get past that, it gets more academic and that's where they start to fall behind. 'Eily particularly struggles with any type of change to the normal, becoming agitated and very distressed, even if we were only to change the route we take to a familiar location. 'She remains upset for a considerable amount of time afterwards and gets very distraught if things will change from the familiar again. 'I cannot overemphasise the reaction Eily would have, impacting all areas of her life, and our entire family life, if she had to leave Ballyporeen to access the day-to-day assistance she needs to help navigate her way through the educational and social aspects of school'. The Department of Education said an additional 399 new special education classes have been sanctioned by the NCSE for the 2025/2006 school year. Another 300 special school places and five new special schools are also being established. 'The NCSE has advised the department that sufficient special class capacity has already been created in this area so that children who require special class placements are able to access them for September 2025. "In some cases, children may wish to remain in their local school, where they will be supported by the special education resources that are provided to mainstream schools.' It said queries on individual classes should be referred to the NCSE. However, the NCSE did not respond to requests for comment. While the department said there will be nearly 4,000 available spaces for children in special education classes next year, it does not appear that Scoil Teampall will be among them. The school was contacted for comment.
The Journal
24-04-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
Special Needs Assistants who lose positions in a school to benefit from redeployment scheme
SPECIAL NEEDS ASSISTANTS who lose their jobs due to falling enrolment or reduced care needs will soon be able to be redeployed to a school which has a vacant post. Special needs assistants (SNAs) support pupils who have care needs resulting from a disability, behavioural difficulties or a significant medical issue. They are allocated to schools to work with children who have specific care needs and they provide non-teaching care support. Principals and/or board of managements deploy SNAs within schools to ensure that students with the greatest level of need receive the greatest level of supports. There are over 23,000 SNAs working in schools across the country. Education Minister Helen McEntee and Minister of State with responsibility for Special Education and Inclusion, Michael Moynihan, today confirmed that work is underway on a redeployment scheme for SNAs. Advertisement The SNA Redeployment scheme will allow SNAs in posts which may no longer be required for reasons such as falling enrolments, reduced care needs or changing demographics to be redeployed to a school which has a vacant post. The scheme will be operated by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) and its CEO John Kearney remarked that it will 'not only facilitate allocation of SNA support where it is most needed but will also build capacity in the SNA workforce'. 'The scheme ensures valuable skills are not lost as the level of need shifts between schools,' said Kearney. Minister McEntee meanwhile said it is 'crucial that experienced SNAs can be redeployed to a school where a vacant post arises, allowing them to stay in the sector and ensuring they can continue to share their skills and experience'. She added that the scheme will 'increase job security for SNAs, and encourage prospective SNAs to enter the workforce'. 'Crucially, the scheme will benefit children and school communities by ensuring that the SNA workforce is agile, and in a position to respond to emerging needs,' said McEntee. Elsewhere, Minister Moynihan said the scheme will 'further bolster how we support children and schools by ensuring SNAs can stay within the workforce and do what they do best in supporting children with additional needs'. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Examiner
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
SNAs may get better job security under NCSE scheme
Work is under way on a scheme to improve job security for special needs assistants (SNAs) that will allow them to move to another school when faced with falling enrolments or changing demographics. An SNA redeployment scheme, to be operated by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), will, for the first time, allow SNAs to be redeployed to another school, if they are no longer required in the initial school. Currently, SNAs are allocated as a school-based resource. Their job security can be influenced if a student moves on from a school, demographics change, or care needs are reduced. Some have spent their whole career not knowing whether or not they will have a job the following September. Helen McEntee, the minister for education minister, and Michael Moynihan, minister of state for special education, have confirmed that work is under way on a redeployment scheme. There are more than 23,000 SNAs in schools across the country, Ms McEntee said. 'They are at the heart of our schools, both mainstream and special education schools,' she said. It is crucial that experienced SNAs can be redeployed to a school where a vacant post arises, allowing them to stay in the sector and ensuring they can continue to share their skills and experience with children and young people with significant care needs. This scheme will increase job security for SNAs, and encourage prospective SNAs to enter the workforce, she added. 'Crucially, the scheme will benefit children and school communities by ensuring that the SNA workforce is agile, and in a position to respond to emerging needs.' The scheme has been undertaken in conjunction with ongoing work on the first SNA workforce development plan, which is scheduled for publication later this year. SNAs are integral to how children with additional needs are supported in our schools, said Mr Moynihan. 'It is a priority for me and this Government to ensure appropriate supports are in place to facilitate attendance and participation by all children in school. 'The skills and experience which SNAs accrue through their work supporting children with special educational needs are a significant asset in the pathway to achieving inclusion in the education sector.' The allocation circular for SNAs in mainstream schools is due to be published shortly. This circular will advise all schools on their SNA allocation for the 2025/2026 school year, and it will also reference the redeployment scheme. NCSE chief executive John Kearney said the scheme will also build capacity in the SNA workforce, adding: 'The scheme ensures valuable skills are not lost as the level of need shifts between schools.' Work on the first SNA workforce development is expected to be published in September.
Irish Times
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
Job security boost for special needs assistants in schools under new scheme
Special needs assistants (SNAs) will be redeployed to vacant posts in other schools if they are no longer required due to factors such as falling enrolments or reduced care needs among pupils under a new scheme. There are more than 22,000 SNAs in classrooms whose role is to assist teachers by supporting more vulnerable students with significant care needs. Minister for Education Helen McEntee said the new redeployment scheme, to be operated by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), will allow SNAs stay in the sector and continue to share their skills and experience with vulnerable children. 'This scheme will increase job security for SNAs and encourage prospective SNAs to enter the workforce. Crucially, the scheme will benefit children and school communities by ensuring that the workforce is agile and in a position to respond to emerging needs,' she said. READ MORE Ms McEntee's announcement comes in advance of the Fórsa trade union education divisional conference in Galway on Thursday. The union represents more than 18,000 education workers including SNAs. Issues such as the allocation of SNAs, negotiations on new contracts and the need for a redeployment scheme are due to be debated. The Department of Education said the new initiative was being undertaken in conjunction with ongoing work on a workforce development plan, scheduled for publication later this year. John Kearney, NCSE chief executive, said the new measure will build capacity in the SNA workforce by ensuring 'valuable skills are not lost as the level of need shifts between schools'. [ Helen McEntee announces 'largest national conversation on education in the State's history' Opens in new window ] The number of SNAs has grown dramatically over recent years. Some 1,600 new posts are due to allocated to schools this year, which will see the SNA workforce exceed 23,000. The increase reflects the growing level of need among children with additional needs and higher prevalence rates of conditions such as autism. Despite the increases, some schools and parents say they are losing out SNA support and, as a result, pupils in need of crucial support are struggling in classes. On Wednesday, the Irish National Teachers' Organisation heard that some schools were being restricted from appointing SNAs to fill their approved allocation due to a 'recent enforcement of a recruitment cap'. Delegates backed a motion from the union's Drogheda branch calling on the union to negotiate education authorities to ensure there are 'no barriers to the appointment of SNAs, when approved, to meet identified needs in a school'. The Department of Education says SNAs are allocated to schools as a 'school-based resource'. 'Principals or school board of management deploy SNAs within schools ensuring that students with the greatest level of need receive the greatest level of supports,' it says. 'Where a school considers it has insufficient SNA support to meet the needs of its students, an application can be submitted to the NCSE requesting a review of its allocation.'
