The pausing of a controversial review of special needs assistant (SNA) allocations after criticism from teachers, parents and unions has bought the Government some time to sooth tensions.
So writes Jack Horgan-Jones in his analysis of the U-turn, where he also points out that the issue has “also proved a sharp reminder of one of the hard borders of Irish politics – that there are few things trickier than taking something away".
He also writes that there is the question of what comes next, as schools that have been told of a planned cut to their SNA numbers are left in limbo.
Minister for Education Hildegarde Naughton has urged them to use internal review mechanisms to appeal the outcome if they are unhappy, but there is pressure on the Coalition – including from its own backbenchers – to clarify the next steps.
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It is a while since any issue other than Fianna Fáil’s disastrous presidential election campaign has led to ructions at its weekly parliamentary party meeting.
But last night’s gathering of its TDs and Senators in Leinster House is said to have been dominated by the SNA issue, with several party members angry at the way decisions on reductions were communicated to schools.
While those present accepted there was an overall increase in SNAs in 2026 and that none would be made redundant, they were angry that some schools had received notice that they would lose “several SNAs in one go”, a source present said, adding that the meeting heard it was “unacceptable that schools would face such a cliff edge”.
A TD said “very strong feelings” were aired, and directed mostly at the National Centre for Special Education (NCSE), which manages the SNA programme.
As Horgan-Jones and Marie O’Halloran report on today’s front page, the Government pulled the handbrake on the SNA review after the NCSE contacted almost 200 schools indicating their allocations were being reduced.
Naughton had indicated the reviews would continue but said on Tuesday she would pause the process, having listened to issues raised by parents and school communities.
A total of 584 reviews have been carried out, with two-thirds of schools set to retain or grow their SNA allocation for 2026. However, 194 schools would see their allocations cut.
“I want to reiterate that there are no cuts to SNA numbers. I want to ensure that SNAs are with the children who most need their care,” Naughton said in a statement.
The issue had caused a significant political blowback for the Coalition.
The Department of Education had said the number of SNAs allocated to a school can change for a variety of reasons, including fluctuating student numbers, changes in individual care needs or students moving from primary to post-primary school.
In the Dáil, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said “no SNA is being removed from any school during this school year”. But he said “it’s not plausible that there wouldn’t be reviews” in the context of allocating resources to the areas most in need.
Martin said he first introduced the post of SNA, under reforms more than 20 years ago, and there were now close to 25,000 working in schools. He said the numbers had grown by 45 per cent in the last five years alone.
Miriam Lord’s take on the Dáil debate is headlined: “Micheál’s full of bluster on his record – but threatened SNA ‘review’ falls flat as a pancake”.
Best Reads
Our lead story today details how electronic components from Irish companies are being shipped in vast quantities to Russia, where they are often fitted to “kamikaze drones” for use against civilian targets in Ukraine. Conor Gallagher reports that is despite EU export bans introduced following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, designed to shut off the supply of such technology to Russia. In a 15-month period, beginning in January 2024, just under 10 tonnes of components from Irish companies reached Russia. All but 4 per cent consisted of components subject to EU export bans, an analysis of trade data shows.
Elsewhere on the front page, Ellen Coyne reports that Meta, the global tech giant, wants the Irish Government to use its coming European Union presidency to advocate for the scrapping of a law that would crack down on addictive social media features such as infinite scroll.
Tensions are high in Limerick’s City Hall as John Moran has questioned whether there is a strategy by some to make his role as mayor “unbearable” to “create sufficient pressure that I might simply walk away”. Ireland’s only directly elected mayor made the remarks in a lengthy post on his website amid a row over Limerick City and County Council’s (LCCC)’s corporate plan, which was approved by councillors on Tuesday last week.
Playbook
The Cabinet meets this morning. In their tee-up story Jack Horgan-Jones and Ellen O’Riordan report that Ministers are to consider a new digital and artificial intelligence strategy that will confirm the Government’s intention to introduce legislation here restricting social media access for under-16s.
Dáil proceedings kick off at 9am with an opportunity for TDs to raise topical issues.
At 10am there will be a debate on legislation, proposed by the Labour Party, on the right to remote working.
Leaders’ Questions is at noon.
Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan has described the International Protection Bill – to be debated in the Dáil today – as legislation that will lead to the “most significant reform of Irish asylum laws in the history of the State”. It covers Ireland’s participation in the European Union’s migration and asylum pact. There will be a second stage Dáil vote on the Bill at 2.13pm before a committee stage debate on the same legislation from 2:33pm. Eight hours have been set aside for this debate.
The report and final stage of Government legislation on the protection of employees in the event of the insolvency of their employer will be debated at 10.33pm.
The weekly Dáil votes are scheduled to take place at 11.33pm.
The Coalition’s legislation aimed at reforming the rental market will be debated in the Seanad at 4.30pm.
The Citizens Information Board will be before the Committee on Social Protection to be quizzed on its “Connecting Citizens” strategy from 9.30am.
Officials from the Health Service Executive (HSE) will be at the Committee on Disability Matters, which is looking at the topic of living arrangements for people with disabilities at 9.30am.
The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation and representatives of the Pregnancy Loss Research Group will be at the Committee on Health as it examines the National Maternity Strategy 2016 to 2026. The meeting starts at 9.30am.
Also at 9.30am, representatives of the Irish Road Haulage Association and the National Bus and Railworkers Union will be at the Committee on Transport to answer questions on road safety.
The Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment is conducting pre-legislative scrutiny of the general scheme – or outline – of legislation on short-term letting. Representatives of Booking.com and the Irish Self-Catering Federation are due to attend a meeting that starts at 12:30pm.
Business and farm lobbyists will be before the Committee on European Affairs at 3.30pm for engagement on planning for Ireland’s presidency of the Council of the European Union later this year.
The full schedule can be found here.
