The processes of population of 3p₁, 3p₃, 3p₆, and 3p₉ levels (in Paschen’s notation) of neon atom has been studied by spectroscopic methods during the decay period of plasma produced in helium containing small concentrations of neon ([Ne]/[He] ≈ 10^–5). Based on the comparative analysis of temporal variation of the intensities of NeI spectral lines of 2p⁵4p → 2p⁵3s and 2p⁵4d → 2p⁵3p transitions, it is established that the formation of exited Ne(2p⁵4p) atoms in the afterglow is related to the dissociative recombination (DR) of homo- and heteronuclear ions and electrons via reactions HeNe⁺ + e → Ne(2p⁵4p) + Ne and Ne₂⁺ e → Ne(2p⁵4p) + Ne. The relative contributions of these processes to the rate of population of various Ne(3p_j) states depend on the energies of 3p_j levels. The upper 3p₁ level lying above the ground state of Ne₂⁺(v = 0) ion is populated almost entirely due to the DR of HeNe⁺ heteronuclear ions. The DR of Ne₂⁺ ions and electrons significantly contributes to $$\Gamma _{3p_j }^{Ne_2^ + }$$ flux in population of low-lying 3p₃, 3p₆, and 3p₉ levels; $$\Gamma _{3p_j }^{Ne_2^ + }$$ value increases with decreasing energy of 3p_j level.