The Government “never signed off on” planned reductions to almost 200 schools' special needs assistants (SNAs) posts from next September, Taoiseach Micheál Martin has told the Dáil. Speaking in Dublin on Tuesday evening, Mr Martin said that opposition parties had "given the impression" that the Government had approved the outcome of the NCSE's review. Asked if he had confidence in the NCSE, Mr Martin said he did. Mr Martin replied: “The Government never signed off on this. In the last two to three years, the NCSE has only reviewed schools who have sought increases in posts, Mr Martin said.

Source: Irish Examiner February 24, 2026 22:05 UTC