Concerns raised over alarming rise in number of teachers and SNAs missing work over assaults in schools

There has been a sharp increase in the number of teachers and special needs assistants (SNAs) forced to miss work as a result of being assaulted in schools.

New figures provided by the Department of Education show the total number of teachers and SNAs who have had to take leave from work due to being assaulted has almost trebled in the past five years.

The figures also highlight how each violent incident in schools last year led to a member of teaching staff taking an average of 18 days off work.

Last year, a total of 412 teaching staff availed of a special scheme operated by the department for teachers and SNAs unable to perform their duties because of physical injuries from an assault at work.

The figures also show that violent incidents in schools predominantly affect SNAs at primary level.

Teaching staff forced to take leave last year consisted of 301 SNAs and 111 teachers, with all but eight assaults happening to staff in primary school.

The level of assaults on teaching staff last year was up 58pc on the 260 cases recorded the previous year and almost treble the pre-pandemic total in 2019 of 144. The figures, which exclude any assaults in schools operated by Education and Training Boards, were provided in response to a parliamentary question from Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns.

The Cork South-West TD said she was alarmed at “the worrying rise” in assaults on teachers and SNAs, particularly over the last five years.

The figures also highlighted an associated rise in the number of days off work taken by teaching staff who had been assaulted in school.

A total of 7,454 days were missed by teachers and SNAs who were assaulted last year – up from 5,859 in 2022 and 3,451 in 2019.

Ms Cairns said SNAs had “borne the brunt” of assaults in schools.

“This is another reminder of the pressures that school staff face on a daily basis,” Ms Cairns said.

“The figure may not even tell the full story as they do not include undocumented absences due to assaults.”

Ms Cairns expressed concern that the issue of assaults on teaching staff was adding to problems caused by ongoing understaffing of schools.

She pointed out the teacher vacancy rate stands at 28pc, while there is a continuing shortage of SNAs and special education teachers in classrooms around the country.

The Social Democrats leader said there was a need to properly quantify the level of need of supports in schools in the interest of the welfare of both children and teachers.

She called on Education Minister Norma Foley to outline what steps she would take to improve the safety of teaching staff and to ensure schools were adequately funded “to meet the everyday reality of working in a classroom”.

Separately, Ms Foley said the Department of Education would be carrying out a review of the Leave of Absence Following Assault Scheme as part of a review of all circulars in response to a call to make a distinction for assaults carried out by children with special needs.

Sinn Féin TD Paul Donnelly urged the minister to change the terminology in cases where teachers were injured by a pupil in a special school.

“The children do not intend to harm and the current terminology is upsetting for the children and their parents,” the Dublin West TD said.

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