Eight Special Needs Assistants To Be Axed Across Two Kildare Schools Despite Budget Boost

Wednesday, 11 February 2026 10:32

By Martin Osborne

Scoil Mhichil Naofa in Athy is set to lose five posts, while Patrician Secondary School will lose three following recent allocation reviews.

Two Kildare schools are losing eight Special Needs Assistants between them - despite the Government’s pledge to increase SNA numbers nationwide.

Scoil Mhichil Naofa in Athy is set to lose five posts, while Patrician Secondary School will lose three following recent allocation reviews.

Kildare South Labour TD Mark Wall said: "Budget 2026 announced over 1,700 additional SNAs posts but the reality on the ground is very different. A number of schools across Kildare South have been in touch with my office highlighting that they are now seeing a reduction in their SNA allocation following SENO reviews, despite increasing local demand from children."

He said Scoil Mhichil Naofa primary school in Athy is losing five SNAs while the Patrician Secondary School in Newbridge has lost three.

"Not only are people losing their jobs, but parents will also be worried whether their child will have the right support to stay in education. This is an extremely retrograde step and is a contradiction to the government’s own announcement of increasing SNA places. Schools should not be losing key roles like SNAs when there is already so much demand in our communities," Deputy Wall said.