UP TO 1,000 posts of special needs assistants (SNAs) could be abolished in the coming weeks as the Department of Education imposes new cutbacks.
There were widespread reports from schools yesterday that hundreds of SNAs are set to lose their posts after a spending review.
In the Dáil yesterday, Minister for Education Batt O’Keeffe said the review was designed to identify “surplus posts, which do not meet the current criteria – posts that have been retained when a pupil’s care needs have diminished or where the pupil has left.”
The review by the National Council for Special Education should be completed by the end of March, according to the Minister.
Yesterday, teachers contacted by The Irish Times complained the review is taking a very restrictive view of what constituted special educational needs.
Last night, the Into warned a decision to reduce care staff in primary schools would see a return to parents resorting to the courts to seek justice for their children.
There are more than 8,000 full-time equivalent SNAs employed in primary and special schools.
The INTO said it acknowledged this was a significant number, but argued that the range of disabilities and the complexity of special education needs continued to grow.
Last night, the union said teachers were concerned at growing evidence of reductions in SNAs in primary schools.
Sheila Nunan, incoming general secretary of the INTO, said there could be no question of withdrawing such essential support. Ms Nunan said the department must look at the special needs of children as an educational issue rather than a financial one.
The inclusion of special needs children in primary schools was, she said, one of the most positive developments of the last decade. It was only possible because resources were provided.
Inclusion will not work if resources are withdrawn. Last night, John O’Donovan, principal of Patrician primary in Newbridge Co Kildare, said his school had lost one teacher and had the hours of another SNA greatly reduced after a review. He said the cohort of children requiring special needs in the school was increasing at a time when support was being cut.
In the Dáil, Mr O’Keeffe said special needs organisers are communicating the outcome of the review directly to schools as the review progresses.
He said: “The allocation for any school and any adjustments to that allocation depends on a number of factors such as the number of pupils with care/medical needs leaving, the number of new pupils, the changing needs of the pupils and any surplus identified . . . SNA support will continue to be made available to schools which have enrolled pupils who qualify for such support.”
