Two new special schools for Dublin for academic year, Madigan announces

Dublin will be provided with two new special education schools for this academic year, Minister of State for Special Education Josepha Madigan has revealed.

Last week, Minister Madigan said that across country, 2,535 classes will open, which is an increase of 383 on the previous academic year.

An additional 2,312 new class places will mean that 15,759 students will have a special class place this year.

St Michael’s House will have a new site provided by the Department of Education in Swords, while the Spiritan Education Trust will be given a new special school on the southside.

A new school in Cork will also be opened.

“The Department has been engaging with the NCSE and school authorities with regard to these two areas to ensure that the necessary special education places are provided this year,” Madigan said in a statement.

“As a Department we are committed to special education provision with over 25 percent of our total budget being spent on special education.

“Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education appropriate to their needs is a priority for this Government and for me as Minister.

“This year, just under 25 percent of the total Education budget or €2bn will be invested in supporting children with special educational needs and I will continue to prioritise supporting children with special educational needs in Budget 2023.

“I’m delighted to say that we have made significant progress over the last few months in terms of additional special classes being sanctioned by the NCSE.

“Since I announced that I would be using the section 37a process to compel schools to open classes across the country, the Department and the NCSE have been working tirelessly with school communities to increase the amount of special classes.

“As students return to school, a record 2535 special classes will open their doors.

“This is an increase of 383 classes from the previous school year and will ensure that approximately 15,759 special class places will be available this year, including 2312 new special class places.”

Madigan said that she wanted to acknowledge the schools who have “engaged positively” with her department to accommodate the new classes.

“As a result we are now in a position to provide a significant number of additional special school places with the creation of three new Special Schools.

“My number one priority as Minister of State with responsibility for Special Education has been to ensure that every child in this country has access to a school place and the NCSE has advised that we now have sufficient places available to meet the expected need this school year.”

Earlier this year, Madigan faced criticism after a proposal came to light which suggested sending children with additional needs who cannot access school places to “special education centres”.

However, speaking on RTE radio last week, Minister Madigan said the plan had only ever been a proposal, as the Department of Education and the NCSE sought to come up with alternatives to home tuition.