The Mayor of Drogheda Councillor Michelle Hall has said she remains extremely concerned about the future of Special Needs Assistants in schools across the town and County Louth despite the Government reversing its proposed national review.
She said serious questions remain for schools and families following the decision by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael to roll back on the proposed changes to special needs supports. While the reversal followed strong pressure from parents and school communities, she believes the episode has left deep uncertainty locally.
Councillor Hall, who worked as an SNA from 2007 to 2019 in mainstream, special school and special class settings, said she understands first hand the vital role SNAs play in supporting children with additional needs and assisting teaching staff. Now working as a Special Education Teacher in a DEIS Band 1 school, she said SNAs are embedded and valued colleagues in education.
She said professional interventions for children are often limited and inconsistent, leaving SNAs to implement speech and language therapy, physical therapy and occupational therapy programmes, as well as supporting children with complex social and emotional needs that may require input from psychologists, psychiatrists or behavioural therapists.
The Mayor said she began her career working one to one with students in mainstream settings, providing high level support where needed and gradually encouraging independence. Over the years she worked with students diagnosed with Down’s Syndrome, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Acquired Brain Injury, Cerebral Palsy and Autism.
She said that as time progressed SNAs were increasingly shared across multiple classes, sometimes supporting up to ten children across three classes daily rather than the one to one support many began with. She outlined how SNAs assist with personal care, social and communication skills, organisational and learning supports, emotional regulation and helping students manage anxiety, transitions and behaviour.
Councillor Hall said that in an ideal system children would receive early and consistent intervention from a multidisciplinary team, but in reality many parents pay privately for services due to limited state provision. She described short term interventions and what she termed a postcode lottery, with some children missing out on specialist services depending on where they live.
She said she cannot understand why any government would contemplate reducing SNA support when many students present with additional needs even without a formal diagnosis. In her view every classroom in every school should have an SNA, describing them as invaluable professionals who often hold significant qualifications.
Councillor Hall also raised concerns about job insecurity among SNAs, many of whom fear losing their positions annually despite being embedded in their school communities and contributing to the local economy. She said children deserve stability, SNAs deserve respect and schools require a long term plan that matches funding to need and guarantees that support will not be withdrawn at short notice.
A public protest in support of SNAs was held at St Peter’s Church in Drogheda on Wednesday. It was organised by local SNA and Forsa union member Rose Ayseul.
Deputy Ged Nash said it was important for the people of Drogheda to support SNAs, teachers and especially the young people and families who rely on their assistance. He said the Government’s handling of the issue had caused significant distress to families and Special Needs Assistants.
