Protests over reductions to special needs assistants (SNAs) will be taking place all across the country this week. Many will take place on 5pm this Wednesday to coincide with the protest outside Leinster House. From Market Square, Buncrana, to Market Cross, Killarney, SNAs will be joined by members of their school communities in demanding respect for the work. On this page you will find an update on our talks with government, a set of placards for you to print at home, and a list of protest times and locations.
Government have now confirmed that there will be no reductions to special needs assistants for the next school year, and any school that has been allocated additional resources will receive them.
It was also agreed that the SNA redeployment scheme, the SNA workforce development plan and changes to a 2014 circular outlining the role of a SNA will be advanced before any further decisions are taken. The priority will be ensuring that the child-centred approach to the provision of special education is retained and enhanced in these policy developments. The NCSE cannot therefore make recommendations on SNA numbers until these key documents are agreed and published.
This situation should never have happened. The Government has failed to prioritise this issue for too long. While the additional 19million in funding that has been found is to be welcomed, it is a sticking plaster. What is needed is real engagement and resourcing and proper planning for the future of special education in mainstream classes.
Protests planned earlier in the week are set to go ahead. We will be standing with SNAs to demand respect for their contributions to schools and the futures of the students they support.
For members attending protests we have produced a set of placards for you to print at home:
Below is a non-exhaustive list of protests planned this week. We will be updating members of new protests via social media as they come to us.
Wednesday 25th February
- 2pm – The Square, Castlerea, Roscommon.
- 3.30pm – The Square, Roscommon Town.
- 4pm – John Cummins Constituency Office, Parnell Street, Waterford.
- 5pm – Outside the Dáil, Kildare Street, Dublin.
- 5pm – Merchants Quay, Limerick.
- 5pm – Market Square, Buncrana, Donegal.
- 5pm – Office of Minister for Education, Woodquay Court, Galway.
- 5pm – Crescent Quay, Wexford.
- 5pm – City Hall, Sligo.
- 5pm – The Square, Dundalk.
- 5pm – St. Conleth’s Parish Church, Newbridge, Kildare.
- 5pm – The Courthouse, Monaghan.
- 5pm – Market Square, Mullingar.
- 5pm – Market Cross, Killarney.
- 5pm – Town Hall, Edenderry.
- 5pm – City Hall, Cork.
- 5pm St. Peter and St. Paul’s Church, Portlaoise.
- 5.15pm – Ardee Monastry NS, Louth.
- 6pm – Ashbourne Library, Meath.
Friday 27th February
- 4pm – Mary Butlar’s Consituency Office, O’Connell Street, Dungarvan.
- 6pm – Cavan Court House, Cavan.
Saturday 28th February
- 12-4pm – Main Guard, Clonmel.
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