280 special needs assistants in Carlow and Kilkenny are being balloted for industrial action.
The Impact Trade union which represents almost 8,000 across the country has issued the poll in response to what they say is the Government’s failure to announce SNA allocations before the end of the 2017 summer term.
There are 121 special needs assistants in Carlow and 159 in Kilkenny and the ballot is for industrial action, up to and including strike action.
The Impact trade union says for the fourth consecutive year, the government has not dealt with the allocations for staff before the summer school break was over.
They want them to be announced no later than May to allow the distribution of available hours to serving staff and they want job security on a par with teachers and other public servants.
The ballot was issued to IMPACT members by post over the weekend, and concludes on Friday 13th October.