Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh on SNA Workforce Plan Rejection

SNAs are very dedicated members of our school community who work very, very hard with our most vulnerable children. However, many have legitimate outstanding concerns following the publication of the new circular and the WDP. So, Ara, can you tell me your plans to address outstanding concerns of SNAs in view of rejection by members of a union of the Workforce Development Plan and if you'll make a statement on the matter, go raibh maith agat. Thank you very much for the question. I suppose just by way of background, the number of SNAs that are working within the education system has grown significantly to support increasing number of students with special education needs both at primary, both at mainstream school and in the special schools and the special classes. By the end of this year, there will be approximately 26,000 SNAs in our education system. And in recognition of the importance of the SNA role, the department established the SNA Assisted Workforce Development Plan, the unit, and on the 3rd of June, 2026, published the first SNA Workforce Development Plan. Built around five strategic pillars, the plan recognised the vital contribution of the SNAs to supporting children and young people with additional educational needs, enabling their full participation in school life. It sets out a clear framework to strengthen and support the special education and special needs to their enhanced professional development, greater role clarity, workforce sustainability measures and stronger collaboration across all the school communities. The actions set out in the SNA Workforce Development Plan were developed over a period of more than two years through extensive engagement between the Department of Education and Youth, FORSA and other stakeholders. Direct stakeholder consultation on the plan, including focus groups with the SNAs, the teachers and the school leaders, consultation with children and young people, a survey of the special needs assistants, which more than 13,000 SNAs engaged, and the number of online webinars with the SNAs and school leaders. I note the outcome of the ballot by members of FORSA, not to accept the plan. While I am disappointed by this outcome, the department remains committed to constructive engagement with FORSA and remains available to engage in relation to these matters. The department continues to work with all stakeholders to achieve sustainable improvement for the SNA workforce in pursuit of the education system that is of the highest quality, where every child and young person feels valued and actively supported and nurtured to achieve their full potential. I appreciate the work that has gone into this over the last few years. I am very aware of that, but the local bargaining agreement being off the table now is a matter of serious concern and insult to SNAs. That pay increase should have been protected and maintained, irrespective of the ballot outcome on the new plan. Will you reverse this decision to allow talks to continue in good faith? They rejected the plan because they felt more and more was being put on them, but without the adequate recognition or compensation. There remains uncertainty when hours will be completed, the additional time SNAs are required to be on site and the impact this may have on the opportunities to supplement their income, such as bus escorts after school. There are also concerns about redeployment, particularly the loss of seniority and the insecurity of fixed-term contracts following redeployment. SNAs receive no additional payment for state examinations, no EPV days for the summer programme, no allowances for working in special schools, deaf schools and Gaelic schools. At the same time, they remain excluded from important decision-making processes, despite the plan's emphasis on collaborative planning. All of these issues highlight a fundamental lack of respect that remains unaddressed by the plan. I could not emphasise the respect that both Minister Nochlin and I have for the special needs assistance and the contribution they make to education. Back in March this year, we met with the SNAs to have further engagement and consultation with them and to understand their roles. The workforce development plan is the first significant piece of work that has been done to plan for the SNAs into the future, not just the here and now, but into the future as well. Huge consultation has taken place and there has been huge engagement. The Department has received official confirmation from FORCE towards the end of last week, and the Department has written back to FORCE as well for further engagement. We are open to continuing the dialogue because we fully respect the role of the SNA and we appreciate the role of the SNA right across the education system to allow young people to achieve their full potential. The key note is that the Department remains open to discussion with them to engage further. I do not question your respect for the SNAs or on Ara Nochlin, but the Department needs to show this respect. The trust of the SNAs has been severely damaged following the scandal last February. I think this plays a significant role in the ballot outcome, as well as years of being undervalued in the system. The community of SNAs simply do not have reason to trust the bona fides of the Department. Yes, there is huge consultation going on, but I think we need to go back to the negotiating table and put together a plan that SNAs can get behind. We need that meaningful consultation with them. They need to be heard. Their legitimate fears and anxieties need to be addressed. I think we need to get this right. We need to truly back our SNAs. I think they need to be a bigger part of this conversation. By the Department on the development of the Workforce Development Plan over two years, and a huge amount of engagement and meetings were held. It is the first Workforce Development Plan, and I suppose there was concern as well in relation to the redeployment and the circular and all those documents were walked through and co-designed very carefully with the SNA in mind, and to make sure that we understood the concerns of the SNAs. Just to confirm, the Department have written back this week, and they have confirmed that the Department remains committed to constructive engagement with FORSA and are available to engage in these matters. That is the communication that we have sent back to FORSA, and that is the commitment that we can give you, that we remain committed to constructive engagement with FORSA, which is the union representing the SNAs, because we do value the role of the SNA across the education system and the amount of commitment that they give and the amount of work that they give to allow children with additional needs to have a fully functioning education system as well. I do not think right across the House, I think we all accept and appreciate the role of the SNA and are deeply committed to further engagement. Thank you Minister.