Special resources in pipeline for Laois schools

Extra resources are in the pipeline for a host of Laois schools as part of a national increase in resources for special education.

Under the initiative, twelve new special education classes are set to be established in Laois with all having six pupils, one teacher and one special needs assistant.

The Minister for Education Norma Foley confirmed that funding is being provided to advance the initiative in the forthcoming 2024/2025 school year.

Minister for State and Laois Offaly TD Seán Fleming welcomed the allocation.

“I welcome the news that there are going to be twelve new special classes in Laois in September. I want to thank all our local schools who are working so hard to make this happen in conjunction with the Department of Education and the National Council for Special Education. This is a sign of this government’s commitment to delivering an inclusive education for all our children,” the Deputy said.

In total, over 375 new special classes will be delivered in September for around 2,300 children with additional educational needs. Additional building work is being carried out in schools across the country to provide either new classrooms or refurbish existing classrooms for the new special classes.

The list of the schools with new special classes in Laois this September is below picture:

Pictured in Laois in 2002 were Minister for Education Norma Foley TD and Minister Sean Fleming TD meeting pupils at the official opening of the new Gaelscoil Thromaire. Photo: Alf Harvey.

• St Joseph's NS, Borris-in-Ossory
• Presentation Convent Primary School, Portarlington
• Scoil Padraig NS, Ballylinan
• Clonenagh NS, Mountrath
• Scoil Mhuire NS, Abbeyleix
• Scoil Bhride NS, Rathdowney
• Scoil Naomh Eoin Phoil Naofa NS, Ballyroan
• Scoil Chríost Rí, Secondary, Portlaoise
• Coláiste Íosagáin, Secondary, Portarlington
• St Fergal's College, Secondary, Rathdowney
• Mountrath Community School, Secondary

The Department of Education and the National Council for Special Education are engaging with school patrons and a small number of schools to finalise the arrangements necessary for the remainder of special classes to open for the coming school year in the areas where they are needed.

Minister for Education Foley said: “I know that there are still challenges delivering school places for children with additional educational needs in their nearest school. It is my absolute aspiration that it will, in time, come to a point where every child with additional educational needs will be able to attend their local school and that there will be no distance for them to travel. We are making progress in that respect, but there is more to be done.”

The number of Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) who help parents to find school places and health services for their children has increased from 73 to 120.