Laois special schools once again excluded from therapy supports programme

Special schools in the Midlands have once again been excluded from a Government pilot programme to introduce therapists into special schools, leaving Laois and Offaly families bitterly disappointed.

Minister for Children Roderic O’Gorman, Minister for Education Norma Foley, Minister of State for Disabilities Anne Rabbitte, and Minister Hildegard Naughton, and senior HSE and NCSE officials announced an additional ten special schools to be included in the second phase of the pilot. The first phase of the pilot saw six schools in Cork and Dublin selected.

The ten schools announced today include: six schools in Dublin, two schools in Cork and two in Galway.

There are 130 special schools in Ireland, and of the 16 places available on the programme, eight are in Dublin, six are in Cork, and two schools are in Galway.

St. Francis Special School, Portlaoise, Kolbe Special School, Portlaoise and Offaly School for Special Education, Tullamore, have yet to be included within this programme.

Pictured: The opening of the new St Francis school building, June 16 2022. 

It's very bleak," said founder of Therapists in Special Schools Alliance, Ms Orlaith Kerrigan.

"If we were just getting news that we weren't in the pilot. We hope the programme will be fully functional, as it hasn't been to date. We are happy for those who have been selected for the pilot, but it is very difficult to celebrate when other children are in as much need," she said.

"It is hard to accept that there are no schools in the Midlands included, yet two schools within Minister Naughton's constituency. We are lucky that we have received word that Kolbe will have a psychologist filling in the empty role from November, with a senior Occupational Therapist due to begin in the new year," Ms Kerrigan said.

"In the mean time we are trying to get agency staff to fill these positions, it's extremely disappointing that once again, no special school in the Midlands is included," she said.

"This would be transformative in the lives of the children of Kolbe. We have had Cllr Willie Aird and Minister Naughton visit the school, and we have received great support from local County Councillors, who have promised to raise questions on this matter at the upcoming Regional Health Forum," Ms Kerrigan finished.

Pictured: A public meeting to demand a new school for Kolbe held in March 2023. Photo: Leinster Express

Ms Kerrigan said that the Therapists in Special Schools Alliance have received significant help from Offaly Independent TD Carol Nolan, along with retiring Laois Fine Gael TD Charlie Flanagan.

“I am sure this is a positive announcement for the selected schools in Dublin, Cork and Galway, but it is a bitter blow for our Special Schools, all of whom urgently need enhanced in-school therapy supports,” said Deputy Nolan.

“In its final days, the legacy of Government now amounts to an utter failure to properly resource and fund special school children and staff in Offaly and Laois, despite repeated assurances from Government party members and Senators that every effort would be made to ensure that this would happen.”

“I will continue to fight for Special Schools in Offaly and indeed in Laois and will not rest until they have all of the resources that are due to them,” concluded Deputy Nolan.

The schools announced for the second phase of the pilot programme are:

Dublin

Cheeverstown House, Kilvare, Templeogue, Dublin 6

Saplings Special School, St Mary's Convent, Ballyroan Crescent, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16

ABACAS Kilnamanagh, C/O St Kevin's Special School, Treepark Road, Kilnamanagh, Dublin 24

Holy Family School for the Deaf, Navan Rd., Cabra, Dublin 7

St. Vincent's, Navan Road, Dublin 7.

St. Michael's House Special School, College St, Baldoyle, Dublin 13

Cork

East Cork Community Special School, Carrigtwohill, Co. Cork

St. Killian’s School, Mayfield, Co. Cork

Galway

Rosedale School, Woodlands Centre, Renmore, Galway

St. Teresa's Special School, 25, Moher, Ballinasloe, Galway.