0 0 Launch of the Special Needs Assistants (SNA) Workforce Development Plan Thursday 9 July 2026 The SNA Workforce development Plan was launched in April 2026 with the vision of SNAs as: “a dynamic, diverse and professional workforce of Special Needs Assistants that is supported and respected within an inclusive school community and who provide high quality, appropriate care to children and young people with significant care needs, to facilitate their attendance, participation and inclusion in school to achieve their full potential”. Chime was involved as one of the stakeholder groups in the development of the plan. The plan includes reference to ‘Communicating through Sign Language (ISL)’ and states that it is anticipated that: ‘the role of the SNA with ISL competency will be fully replaced by the ISL Specialist Classroom Support (ISLSCS)’. The plan also refers to the ISL Advisors who will: ‘Support the development of a while school approach to meeting the needs of students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing whose primary mode of communications and language is ISL. They will provide a programme of professional learning for all members of the school community and support them to meet the needs of those students.’ (Was this already included in the Circular 72/2025?- is there anything new in this plan relating to the ISL Advisor?) Chime is concerned that efforts to recruit ISL Specialist Classroom Support (ISLSCS) and ISL Advisors have not been very successful due to the absence of suitably qualified candidates. We expressed these concerns to Minister of State at the Department of Education and Youth, Michael Moynihan TD.