New education therapy service could be ‘transformational’ for special needs pupils, says McEntee
19 June 2025
Actions in Education Plan includes provision for 90 therapists to deliver services for students in need
A new education therapy service staffed with 90 therapists will start in 45 special schools from September.
The new posts will be initially for occupational therapists and speech and language therapists. The service will provide individualised therapeutic interventions for children who need them.
The service will be provided in special schools first, but will then be rolled out to mainstream schools, according to Minister for Education Helen McEntee.
The proposal is included in the Government’s Actions in Education Plan 2025, which will be announced on Thursday.
The National Education Therapy Service will start recruiting to begin the full service from the start of the 2026-27 school year.
Published in The Irish Times, 19th June 2025.