Special Needs Assistant (SNA) Information Hub

Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) make a valuable contribution to our school communities, through the provision of adult support to enable students with significant care needs attend school. They are an essential element of the whole of school support structure, ensuring that students can access education to allow them achieve their best outcomes and reach their full potential.

SNAs play a central role in the successful inclusion of students with special education needs into mainstream education, special classes and special schools. By the end of 2023, there will be over 20,000 SNAs working in our schools.

In December 2022 the department established a dedicated SNA Workforce Development Unit (SNAWDU) within Special Education Division, in order to ensure that sufficient time and attention is given to examination of the SNA role and any reform or development required.

The SNAWDU will adopt a more strategic approach to SNA policy development with the objective of developing an enhanced SNA service which delivers the best outcome for children with significant care needs in our schools.

Contacts

Payroll services for teaching, non-teaching and retired staff

Address:

Non-Teaching Staff Payroll, Department of Education, Cornamaddy, Athlone, County Westmeath. N37 X659.

Website:

www.gov.ie/en/collection/efad5-payroll-services/

Pensions Unit

Address:

Department of Education, Pensions Unit, Cornamaddy, Athlone, N37 X659

Email:

pensions@education.gov.ie

Phone number:

(090) 648 4189

Summary:

**Monday to Friday 2.30pm - 5.30pm.** (All emails are acknowledged upon receipt and your query will be dealt with as soon as possible). *NB – Please have your PPS number to hand before you call, to ensure your query can be dealt with as expeditiously as possible.

SNA Workforce Development Unit

Address:

SNA Workforce Development Unit, Department of Education, Cornamaddy, Athlone, Co. Westmeath. N37 X659.

Email:

snaworkforcedevelopment@education.gov.ie

Phone number:

(090) 648 3600

Teacher and SNAs: Teacher/SNA Terms and Conditions Section

Address:

Teacher/SNA Terms & Conditions, Department of Education, Cornamaddy, Athlone, Co. Westmeath N37 X659

Email:

teachersna@education.gov.ie

Phone number:

(090) 648 3734

Summary:

Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) are encouraged to submit queries regarding SNA Leave Schemes to their employers in the first instance. All employers have access to applicable Circulars relating to SNA Leave Schemes. Queries relating to statutory and non-statutory SNAs Leave Schemes can be submitted to Leave Admin Section, Teacher/SNA Terms and Conditions Section at the email address above. Recruitment and Appointment Unit in Teacher/SNA Terms and Conditions Section sets out the recruitment and appointment procedures for SNAs for the primary and post primary sector. Queries should be submitted to PORqueries@education.gov.ie