A Workforce Development Plan for Special Needs Assistants is expected to be brought to Cabinet today by Minister for Education Hildegarde Naughton.
It sets out a roadmap for the development and professionalisation of the role.
A long-awaited redeployment scheme for SNAs is also expected to be published.
It will set out, for the first time, procedures under which SNAs in schools, where their roles may no longer be needed, can be moved to schools with vacancies.
Delays to signing off on this agreement around redeployment were a factor in the controversy that erupted last February over proposed cuts to SNA posts in almost 200 primary schools.
A significant public outcry led to a speedy reversal of the planned cuts.
A circular is also expected to be published which will outline the role of the SNA.
Last February, school principals were among those who criticised what they said was a too-narrow criteria governing their role.
SNAs are, in the main, allocated to support children with primary care needs such as toileting. However, schools say that in practice SNAs are needed to support children with a wide variety of secondary care needs too, including behavioural needs.
There will be interest among schools and parents as to whether or not the parameters of the role are widened.
A spokesperson for Minister Naughton said the workforce plan was the culmination of more than two years of extensive research, engagement and consultation, with SNAs and their representative bodies at the heart of its development.
They said the plan recognised the vital contribution SNAs make to supporting children and young people with additional educational needs, and set out a clear framework to strengthen and support SNAs through enhanced professional development, greater role clarity, workforce sustainability measures, and stronger collaboration across school communities.
The SNA workforce has grown significantly in recent years, with almost 25,000 now working across primary, post-primary and special schools.
