25th September 2025
The Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) is today calling for an immediate redrafting of the SNA Review Guidelines issued by the NCSE, and demands an emergency meeting with the body. The union’s Central Executive Committee has now formally concluded that the volume of paperwork imposed by the review constitutes an intolerable burden on school principals and special education teachers, with the negative consequence for the delivery of special education teaching.
Accordingly, the INTO is calling for the immediate removal of all non-essential paperwork requirements for these reviews. The union is also seeking a pause on the review deadline until such a meeting can take place.
While the INTO engaged with the NCSE on Monday of this week and received clarity in respect of some aspects of process which saw letters issued to schools, communication from the NCSE has been far from satisfactory.
In addition, the INTO is calling for a review of the underlying circular (Circular 30/2014) and the immediate publication of the long-awaited revised assault leave circular. The union will also seek an additional meeting between the NCSE and the INTO to address the serious consequences of ongoing poor decision-making and the lack of joined-up thinking that is undermining the delivery of special education.
Should the NCSE fail to act in good faith, the INTO reserves the right to escalate its response.
It is particularly regrettable that these developments have occurred on SNA Appreciation Day. The INTO deeply values the vital work of our SNA colleagues. The actions taken today are directed solely at the burdensome and bureaucratic process imposed by the NCSE and the Department of Education and Youth – not at the role or contribution of SNAs, which we continue to champion and support. A special meeting of the CEC will take place in the coming weeks to consider this matter further.