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‘Save our SNAs’ rallies were held in Roscommon Town and Castlerea on Wednesday afternoon as the outcry continues over planned changes in Special Needs Assistant allocations.
Amidst fears that the changes would lead to cuts to SNAs in the 2026/2027 school year, Minister for Education Hildegarde Naughton has moved to assure people that this will not be the case.
Worried parents, guardians, teachers, SNAs and other stake-holders gathered for two well-attended protests in County Roscommon on Wednesday. They were two of over 20 protests that took place nationwide.
As the SNA controversy continues, Fine Gael senator Gareth Scahill sought to reassure local Roscommon on communities.
Senator Scahill said that Minister Naughton and Minister of State for Special Education Michael Moynihan have both confirmed that there will be no reductions to Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) this year.
Senator Scahill said that the ministers had confirmed that schools that were allocated additional supports will receive them in full, which he described as “much-needed certainty” for students, families and staff.
He said this was “a clear example of Government listening to parents, SNAs and teachers, and responding to the certainty they and the children and students they support need”.
Work is now expected to continue on the SNA redeployment scheme, a workforce development plan, and updates to the 2014 circular, with a stated focus on strengthening a child-centred approach.
Despite that move by the Government to clarify their plans, local campaigners gathered in large numbers this week.
The ‘Save Our SNAs’ protests were held on Wednesday afternoon (February 25th) in both Roscommon Town and Castlerea.
One Roscommon SNA said: “Children with additional needs need their SNA support in order to experience true inclusion in mainstream schools. SNAs support pupils with far more than primary care needs. All pupils, all class teachers, and parents will suffer if SNA hours are cut.”
A local mother described the issue as being deeply personal, saying schools need stronger behind-the-scenes supports to better meet children’s needs.
