Government and Opposition clash over SNA allocations

Government insists there will be no ‘cliff edge’ for schools facing SNA cuts

Any reduction will be a ‘gradual coming off’, says Minister of State as Coalition faces Opposition’s demands for clarity

Special Needs Assistants u-turn the talk of the Dáil amid government backlash from its own TDs

TDs from opposition and government parties say they were receiving worried calls from local schools.

Anger flares at FF party meeting as TDs warn schools faced ‘unacceptable’ cliff-edge loss of SNAs before pause

Taoiseach Micheál Martin told Fianna Fáil TDs and senators that he had spoken to the Education Minister about school SNA allocations after anger flared at tonight’s parliamentary party meeting.

Government and Opposition clash over SNA allocations

Panic, fear and anger were the words used by teachers, special needs assistants and parents after they heard that some schools were about to lose several special needs assistants, the Dáil has heard.

O’Gorman calls on Minister to explain to schools why their SNA allocations are being cut

O’Gorman calls on Minister to explain to schools why their SNA allocations are being cut joseph.keogh@g… Wed, 02/18/2026 - 11:22 IMG_2313_Conor Dowling.JPG Image The Green Party have called on Government to revisit late licensing laws and do more for the protection of night time culture in Dublin.  This call comes as the Hoxton hotel group who now run the Central Hotel in Dublin’s Exchequer Street, seek an injunction on Yamamori Izakaya nightc…

Mary Lou McDonald criticises proposed SNA cuts in the Dáil

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald criticised the government today over proposed cuts to SNA allocations in schools. Addressing Taoiseach Micheál Martin during Leaders’ Questions in the Dáil, McDonald said the cuts would be “devastating” for children with additional needs. Education Minister Hildegarde Naughton has paused the review of Special Needs Assistant allocations after schools had raised concerns that the number of SNAs in their classroo…