Union demands immediate consultation on Government plans to change arrangements for Special Needs Assistant service
Fórsa has demanded immediate consultation on Government plans to pilot changes in the funding and other arrangements for the delivery of the service, which were announced by education minister Joe McHugh today (Wednesday).
Fórsa says SNAs fear the announcement gives the green light for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) and individual schools to impose new and untested arrangements without consultation.
The union says consultation on changes that impact on working conditions is obligatory under the Public Service Stability Agreement (PSSA), and that the service implications of any changes should also be the subject of consultation with SNAs and other stakeholders prior to implementation.
The union says consultation on changes that impact on working conditions is obligatory under the Public Service Stability Agreement (PSSA), and that the service implications of any changes should also be the subject of consultation with SNAs and other stakeholders prior to implementation.
Fórsa official Andy Pike gave a cautious welcome for a proposed national SNA training programme, which is included in the proposals announced today. He also said that plans to ‘frontload’ SNA allocations could reduce the incidence of precarious employment experienced by many SNAs.
Mr Pike said: “We stand ready to work with the education department, the NCSE and schools to improve the service that thousands of SNAs provide to children with special needs each school day. But this needs to be implemented following proper consultation with SNAs and other stakeholders, who need to see more detail before a properly informed view can be established.
“Fórsa recently conducted an SNA survey and consultation, which gathered the views of over 4,000 SNAs. We are in a strong position to constructively inform plans for genuine improvements in this valued service.”