Historically, an SNA was assigned to one or two students, but over time their duties may have drifted from their original assignment. Photograph: iStockThe abrupt pulling of the handbrake on reviews of allocations of special needs assistants (SNAs) to schools around the country has – for now at least – quelled unrest that was rapidly becoming politically intolerable. Part of the issue is the rapid growth in the need for SNAs within the education system. Increased diagnoses of autism, dyspraxia and ADHD among other conditions have driven the rise. It was brought to a head, seemingly, by the reviews of individual schools being undertaken by the National Council for Special Education this year.

Source: The Irish Times February 18, 2026 13:31 UTC