Proposed changes to special school system pose ‘serious risk’ to children’s wellbeing – ‘They would struggle in a mainstream school’
A principal of a school in Wexford which caters for children with mild general learning disabilities believes the move is not in the best interests of pupils.
Proposed changes to the special school system across Ireland will, according to a Co Wexford principal, leave children at risk of “slipping through the cracks” and not fulfilling their potential. A letter issued by the Department of Education last week outlined its plans to “review the designation of existing special schools” for the academic year 2026/2027.
Set to be finalised by December 31 of this year, the plan states that “where there is a need for special class places in a local area, and there is no available school to meet this need . . . the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) can approach other schools to open special classes”.
With regards to the designation of special schools under the plan, the Department and the NSCE have said they “intend to commence work on reviewing the designation of existing special schools to ensure that all special schools respond to the needs of children in their local region, rather than children having to travel past one or more special schools to access a special school placement due to the designation of those schools.”
Published in The Irish Independent, 11th June 2025