The episode will cause some – including some within the Government parties – to wonder how well attuned their Ministers are to potential political pitfalls. There are now close to 25,000 SNAs in Irish schools, up from around 16,000 in 2020, an increase of more than 50 per cent in five years. The Department of Education required a bailout of ¤567 million last year alone, with SNA staffing costs a significant contributory factor. The SNA system has grown to its current scale in a somewhat ad hoc fashion, and if demand continues to rise it must be managed in a more structured way. This week showed how swiftly the Irish political system can sometimes respond to public disquiet.

Source: The Irish Times February 20, 2026 02:31 UTC