More than 500 special-needs assistants and teachers took leave from work because of physical assaults in schools in the last six years.
The Irish Times reports 150 teachers and more than 500 SNAs applied for "assault leave" since the scheme was introduced in 2017.
Under the scheme, leave can be granted to a teacher or SNA who is unable to perform their duties because of a physical injury following an assault.
The maximum leave for assault is three months at full pay but it can be extended in serious cases.
