Great news: more special ASD classes to open in schools across Laois
Over 72 new school places in special classrooms created across Laois for the coming school year
More special classes are expected to open in schools across Laois in the next school year.
While many parents across the county are struggling to source a school place for their child, Fianna Fáil TD Sean Fleming has announced four additional schools due to avail of new special classes this coming September.
Pictured: Holy Family Senior School, Portlaoise. Photo: Google Maps
Each special classroom has an allocation of six school places each. Following announcements earlier this year, this latest update brings a total of 12 new special classes across Laois this coming September, creating 72 new school places for children in need.
"These will be very welcome for the pupils, families and the school communities in these areas," Deputy Fleming told the Leinster Express / Laois Live.
"I look forward to these new classes being in place which will involve the employment of additional Teachers, Special Needs Assistants and above all the accommodation for these new classes.
"A top priority for me as a local TD is to ensure that we have full and proper facilities available for all students with special needs in our schools in Laois so they can have every opportunity for their education and development," Dep Fleming finished.
Other schools set to receive new ASD special classrooms include Gaelscoil Phort Laoise and Scoil Bhríde Clonaslee. Both primary schools will see six new places made available per class.
Pictured: Ballylinan NS
Our Ladys Meadow National School in Durrow has also been granted permission for a new special class. In 2024, the Durrow primary school was granted planning permission to construct two special educational needs classrooms.
Secondary school Heywood CS in Ballinakill has also received permission to establish an additional special class for students.
On April 18, the Leinster Express / Laois Live reported that St. Mary’s CBS Post Primary in Portlaoise is set to receive a new special class in the 2026/2027 academic year.
The school will also receive €30,000 for potential works necessary to accommodate this class, such as the repurposing of an existing classroom or the installation of a prefab.
At primary level, a school is allocated one teacher and two special needs assistants for each new special class. At post-primary level, 1.5 teaching posts and two special needs assistants are provided.