There will be no reductions to SNAs for the 2026/2027 school year, Ministers have confirmed. Photograph: iStockAn extra €19 million will be spent on special needs assistants (SNAs) this year to ensure there are no cuts to existing service provision in schools, it is understood. Meanwhile, Minister for Education Hildegarde Naughton and Minister of State for Special Education Michael Moynihan have confirmed there will be no reductions to SNAs for the 2026/2027 school year. The U-turn came after the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) contacted almost 200 schools indicating their allocations were being reduced. Once these are agreed and published, the NCSE can begin reviews of supports to schools for the 2027/2028 academic year, the department said.

Source: The Irish Times February 24, 2026 06:30 UTC