Part-time special needs assistants are contracted to deliver a specified number of hours service per week in the schools in which they are employed and are paid accordingly. The duration of the service provided is based on the professionally assessed needs of the individual children in respect of whom the special needs assistant support is allocated.
Special needs assistants employed on a part-time basis are paid at an hourly rate. Under current legislation 8% of total earnings is paid to each part-time special needs assistant in respect of holiday pay. At present, a total of 568 special needs assistants are employed on a part-time basis in the primary sector.
I am very much aware of the vital role which special needs assistants play in the special education system. My Department has no plans at present to pay part-time special needs assistants through the summer months.
Question No. 246 answered with Question No. 244.