779. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Youth her views on staff allocations at schools (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41770/26]

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is the statutory body responsible for the provision of special education and allocating supports for students with special educational needs.

The Department of Education and Youth acknowledges the importance of timely staffing allocations for special schools and understands the pressures that delays can place on school leaders in planning, recruitment, and overall organisation.

The department is actively working with the NCSE to ensure that staffing allocations are issued to special schools as early as possible for the coming school year. The department understands that the NCSE will confirm teaching staff allocations early in the week of 8 June. Work is ongoing to improve timelines and provide earlier certainty to schools in advance of the 2027/28 school year.

In previous years, the department asked special schools to run their admissions processes earlier, to enable the timely return of Notifications of Enrolment (NOEs) to the NCSE. This supports the NCSE in finalising and issuing full staffing allocations to schools at the earliest possible stage.

The recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill teaching posts is a matter for the individual school authority, subject to procedures agreed under Section 24 of the Education Act 1998 (as amended by the Education (Amendment) Act 2012).

In accordance with department circulars 0044/2019 and 31/2011, schools are required to employ appropriately qualified and registered teachers and ensure that unemployed teachers should be offered employment in preference to those who have retired.

In accordance with chapter 2 of circular 0044/2019: The advertisement shall state that that the latest date and time for receipt of completed applications, which shall not be earlier than 14 days after the first date of publication of the advertisement.

The recruitment and appointment of Special Needs Assistants (SNA) is a matter for the individual school authority. Department's circular 0051/2019 sets out the current requirements for appointment as a SNA.

Circular 0051/2019 sets out that the advertisement shall state that the latest date for receipt of applications, which shall not be earlier than 14 days after the first date of publication of the advertisement.

My department and the NCSE are committed to delivering an education system that is of the highest quality and where every child and young person feels valued and is actively supported and nurtured to achieve their full potential.