Schools cannot plan on chaos

• Government must guarantee SNA supports

Labour Leader Ivana Bacik TD today called on the Government to immediately provide clear assurances to schools and families on Special Needs Assistant (SNA) allocations, after raising the issue directly with the Taoiseach during Leaders’ Questions in Dáil Éireann. Deputy Bacik said Government’s handling of the review process has created unnecessary fear and uncertainty across school communities, and that a late pause is not a plan.

Labour Leader Ivana Bacik TD said:

“Families are struggling with uncertainty that no parent should ever face: whether their child will have the support they need to feel safe and to learn in school. Over the past week, parents, SNAs, principals and teachers have contacted me in large numbers because they are frightened by what this Government has set in motion with an abrupt change of approach to SNA allocations.

“One mother wrote to me to say her daughter until now feels safe because her SNA is by her side, and that no teacher, no matter how dedicated, can meet every complex need alone. Teachers and SNAs are also asking the blunt question that this Government needs to answer: do Government Ministers understand what it is like to work in a classroom in 2026, in schools that have been under sustained pressure for years?

“I have seen examples of the letter issued last week to principals by the NCSE, abruptly informing schools of the impact of this review. In one case, a principal was told that ‘a surplus of three SNA posts has been identified’, amounting to a near 50% reduction in SNA supports for the coming school year. That kind of shock communication is deeply damaging. It undermines confidence, disrupts planning, and places an intolerable burden on school leaders and families who are already doing everything they can to support children with additional needs.

“Yesterday, the Minister paused the review following a public outcry. But a pause is not a plan. Schools need clarity for September, not last-minute changes and uncertainty. SNAs must, of course, be allocated appropriately, but this Government cannot ignore the reality on the ground. Many schools are dealing with large class sizes, limited resources, and children with complex needs, while families are also facing years-long waiting lists for assessments and diagnoses. A headline figure about national SNA numbers offers little comfort if individual schools lose posts and children lose support.

“The Taoiseach’s reply today was disappointing because it did not address the core issue: how this review is being carried out, and whether schools can rely on continuity of support for the children who need it most. Reviews must be conducted respectfully and transparently. It is inappropriate for schools to receive sudden letters that create fear and confusion, with no meaningful engagement and no clear pathway for what happens next.

“Labour is calling for the Government to provide clarity immediately on what the pause means, to confirm that any future changes to allocation will be phased and planned, and to guarantee that children who currently rely on SNA support will not be left without the assistance they need. Schools and families deserve certainty, and they deserve respect. The Government must act now.”