The Department of Education has announced plans to introduce a new National Therapy Service in Irish schools, with implementation beginning in the 2025/26 academic year, initially focusing on special education schools.
The program will first introduce Speech and Language Therapy and Occupational Therapy services within special education settings, with plans to eventually expand to include physiotherapy and other therapeutic supports. According to the Department, these in-school therapies will ensure “the most vulnerable children can access the services that they need” while supporting both children and their families.
“This service will complement the critical work of teachers and SNAs in supporting children with special educational needs,” the Department stated in its announcement.
The rollout will begin in select special schools later in the 2025/26 school year, with wider implementation scheduled for the start of the 2026/27 academic year. While special schools are the initial focus, the Department confirmed the service will eventually extend to special classes within mainstream schools.
The announcement comes amid ongoing concerns about insufficient educational placements for children with additional needs. Special Education Minister Michael Moynihan has assured parents that appropriate special education school places will be made available to students before the next school year begins.
Last month, parents of children with additional needs demonstrated outside the Department of Education, staging a 24-hour ‘sleep out’ to highlight the shortage of suitable school spaces. The National Council for Special Education estimates approximately 130 students currently need school placements, though advocacy groups suggest the actual number is significantly higher.
In response to placement concerns, the Department revealed that 399 new special education classes have been sanctioned for the next academic year, creating 2,700 additional spaces. Minister McEntee has also announced that all teachers in training will now undertake mandatory placements in special education schools or classes as part of their professional preparation.