3.14)            Special Needs Assistants

Special Needs Assistants (SNA’s) are appointed by Boards of Management in accordance with the annual staffing allocation of the Department of Education and Skills, as informed by the advice of the SENO/NCSE. Their duties involve tasks of a non-teaching nature to assist pupils with assessed educational / physical / behavioural needs with their participation in school.

 

Approved Special Needs Assistants are related to the special needs of one or more pupils in respect of whom the posts are sanctioned and the allocation is renewed annually by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE). The employment of a Special Needs Assistant may be terminated by a reduction in allocation or through the ‘special needs’ pupil(s) ceasing to attend the school. It is important that Boards of Management have adopted selection criteria for such redundancies when they occur. It is important that Boards of Management comply with CL 59/2006 for such redundancies when they occur. Redundancies are dealt with on a seniority basis, i.e. Last in, First out (LIFO). Guidelines on redundancies are available on the ACCS website, Human Resources section.

 

The DES in conjunction with NCSE is currently engaged in a review of all SNA allocations in primary, special and post-primary schools by the National Council for Special Education with a view to ensuring that the criteria governing the allocation of such posts are properly met. Pending the outcome of this review which is expected before the end of 2009, transitional arrangements have been put in place which are set out in CL 0037/2009. Schools are advised to note these arrangements in making appointments during the interim.