Almost 11,000 Special Needs Assistants have filled out online forms for reassignment under a new process introduced to help deal with the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Department of Education said that within 24 hours of Wednesday's announcement of the planned reassignment of SNAs more than 5,000 had "signed up".
By this morning, a total of almost 11,000 SNAs had returned the online surveys.
Many SNAs expressed dismay and concern on social media when the measures were announced on Wednesday.
Among their concerns was a fear that they might be placed in roles where there was a danger of contracting the coronavirus.
Minister for Education Joe McHugh said on Wednesday it was hoped the skills and experience of some SNAs could be utilised to help free up some healthcare professionals to work in frontline roles.
SNA Sinéad Burns told RTÉ News that she is among a number of SNAs she knows that have all filled out and returned the forms.
She said she found it "odd" that the survey did not ask whether the SNA was currently looking after children or an elderly person.
Asked whether she was happy with the prospect of reassignment she said she would "wait and see".
She said: "It's hard to know how you feel until you see what you are asked to do."
This evening, Minister McHugh said: "This has been a phenomenal response.
"And while the numbers are really significant, they're not surprising because we all know the level of dedication and passion that SNAs have in the work they do."
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