'Job certainty and security' welcomed for Tipperary special needs assistants

A North Tipperary TD has welcomed the news that Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) who work in schools will now be redeployed if the number of SNAs allocated to their school changes.

Up until now, SNAs were made redundant if the numbers allocated to their school changed.

This change comes about under a new SNA redeployment scheme, to be operated by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).

Tipperary TD Michael Lowry has welcomed the news, saying that it will bring relief for those working in the job.

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"From September, a Special Needs Assistant will not be made redundant if the number of roles allocated to a school changes. If such a situation arises, the SNA will be eligible for deployment to another school where vacancies exist," he said.

"This provides job certainty and stability for SNA’s and allows them to make life plans without the ongoing fear of job loss," Deputy Lowry added.

"This decision from the Education Minister, Helen McEntee, will also enhance the provision of services for children with significant care needs, as well as improving conditions for SNAs, ensuring that essential skills and talent would not be lost and that the move would also ensure better structures for SNAs and the students they assist.

The North Tipperary TD said that under the old system, SNAs were left unsure if they had a job to come back to at the end of every school year.

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"Prior to this decision, SNAs were left in limbo at the end of each academic year, due to uncertainty in relation to the number of places allocated for each school.

"This prevented them from being able to plan for their futures as they were without any form of job security," he said.

"The news has been welcomed by the Fórsa Union, which represents SNAs. They say that it will provide certainty to the more than 23,000 people working in SNA roles across the country in both Primary and Post-Primary schools," Deputy Lowry added.