Aontú Senator Sarah O'Reilly has expressed concern that recent changes to the way Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) are allocated are resulting in reduced supports for children in mainstream schools.
Budget 2026 allowed for 1,717 additional SNAs to be recruited in order to bring the national total to around 25,000.
This represents the highest number of SNAs ever provided under a Government budget.
Senator O'Reilly said that while more SNAs overall is welcome, the guidelines used to assign individual SNA hours have changed in a way that seems to raise the bar for many children to qualify.
On paper, the Budget commitment to recruit more SNAs sounds positive, but the way allocations are being decided leaves far too many children without the daily support they need, according to the Co Cavan Senator.
Speaking to Northern Sound, Senator O'Reilly warned that it seems like there is reduced demand, but they've just moved the goalposts so less children qualify for support.
As a result, she is calling on these guidelines to be revised because otherwise there will be children across the country missing out on key support.
Senator O'Reilly told Northern Sound: "The method for allocation in secondary schools is particularly worrying. If a student tells the SENO they do not want or need an SNA, that alone can lead to that support being withdrawn. It places pressure on young people who may not want to stand out but a student saying they don't want support is not the same as not needing it."
She said the current interpretation of eligibility focuses narrowly on physical care needs such as toileting, PEG feeding, injections, and mobility support. However, many areas parents and schools identify as critical are not counted including help with schoolwork, behavioural support, social isolation, regulation or movement breaks.
