SNAs fearing for their jobs

Protest planned in Nenagh

Labour’s Nenagh representative, Cllr Louise Morgan Walsh, has voiced her strong support for Special Needs Assistants across Tipperary, following a surge of enquiries from SNAs in Nenagh and right across the county. Many have contacted Deputy Alan Kelly and Councillors Fiona Bonfield, Louise Morgan Walsh and Michael Brennan in recent days expressing deep concern about the future of their roles from September 2026 onwards.

Cllr Morgan Walsh said that the level of anxiety among SNAs locally is unprecedented.

“Tipperary SNAs have been reaching out to us in large numbers. They are worried, they are frustrated, and they feel completely let down. These are highly skilled workers who support some of the most vulnerable children in our schools. They deserve clarity, respect and security — not uncertainty about whether their roles will even exist in 2026.”

Meanwhile, Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Education, Deputy Ryan O’Meara has welcomed Minister for Education Hildegarde Naughton and Minister of State for Special Education Michael Moynihan’s announcement that there will be no reduction of special needs assistance for the next school year.

Deputy O’Meara said: “This is the right decision, and in my view the only decision that could have been made. I have been working closely with local schools and have been contacted by numerous SNAs in relation to this.”

Andy Pike, Head of Education at Fórsa, welcomed the Government news but described it as a “sticking plaster while the Government tries to get its act together. He added: “This situation should never have happened. The Government has failed to prioritise this issue for too long. So we can’t let this process be kicked down the road. The protests are still going ahead.”

PROTEST IN NENAGH

A protest is being organised for this Thursday, February 26, at Banba Sq in Nenagh for 1pm, organised by SNAs in Nenagh.