SNA reallocation ahead of schedule despite pause, Micheál Martin says
The Taoiseach defended Michael Moynihan, saying the Minister of State was ‘extremely hard-working’ and committed to his brief
National Council for Special Education
The Irish Times view on the SNA controversy: pitfalls and problems
If demand continues to rise it must be managed in a more structured way
Schools approved for additional SNA care will receive it, junior minister says
Any staff losses will be from September 1st, not ‘now or Easter’, Michael Moynihan says
Deaf man denied job interview wins €40,000 in ruling against National Council for Special Education
WRC sets aside €13,000 cap on compensation
Increased diagnoses of autism and ADHD driving rise in SNAs but budget falls short of demand
SNA review comes against the backdrop of spending overruns, with Department of Education needing a €567m bailout last year
Why routine assessments for children with special needs are being scrapped
For parents scrambling to find places in special schools for 2027, a new system is on the way
Not having a special class is not a sign of a school’s non-commitment to inclusion
You cannot impose a vision of inclusion without attending to the granular context in which schools operate
Children in need of special school place promised ‘clear roadmaps’ by Minister
Anyone in need of a special school place or a special class in a mainstream school in September 2026 will know where they are going before the end of this year
Tusla funding boost should be top budget priority, say 150 children’s organisations
Children’s Rights Alliance says child protection and welfare services must be prioritised
‘She knows she’s being excluded’: Children with additional needs left without school places
Rob McMahon says his 13-year-old son picks up his schoolbag each morning as he sees his twin sister get ready for school
Child claims he was skipped in school waiting list after special education council decision, court hears
Child had sought to quash council’s purported designation directing another child be given a place at specialist school
More than 30 children without school places taking High Court action
Judge issues ‘word of warning’ saying provision of school places should start earlier next year
Five children with special needs bring High Court actions over access to education
One of the children has never been to school, while others say they cannot secure suitable placements
Schools’ admission policies placing barriers to children with autism, study finds
Department of Education review finds ‘concerning’ clauses restricting enrolment of vulnerable pupils
Expansion of therapy services in special schools to start in autumn
Programme will coincide with the establishment of a national therapy service in education, Minister says
Department of Education faces UN complaint over school guidance on use of physical restraint
Campaigners say new rules fail to protect vulnerable children
Many special needs students struggle to access career advice at second level, finds study
Research tracks experiences of vulnerable young people and level of support offered by schools
‘Why must we fight for our children’s basic rights?’ – Parents sleep out over lack of school places for pupils with special needs
McEntee says department doing ‘everything possible’ to help
Concern over rise in alleged assaults of special needs pupils
Forty parents planning legal actions over alleged mistreatment, Department of Education records show
Call for ‘urgent’ review of new restraint guidelines in schools
Rules fall ‘far short’ short of what is needed to protect vulnerable pupils, special rapporteur on child protection says
Concerns mount over ‘gaps’ in new rules for use of restraint against children in schools
Ombudsman for Children ‘deeply concerned’ about lack of independent monitoring and inspection of practice in new guidance
Use of seclusion banned in schools for pupils with challenging behaviour
Physical restraint only be permitted in ‘crisis’ situations where there is risk to students and staff
Autism: Why are so many children being diagnosed these days?
As many as one in 20 schoolchildren in Ireland may have autism or similar developmental issues, studies suggest
Sharp increase in autism diagnoses to require thousands of additional special needs places in schools
Official estimates point to a near doubling in proportion of children with autism in need of support at school within five years
Single-school enrolment system planned for children with special needs
New approach aims to end practice of parents having to apply to dozens of schools to find appropriate places
Child with autism refused place by 19 schools
Government accused of failing to uphold right to education for children with additional needs
School therapy supports to be restored in special schools in September
Therapists will be based in 16 special schools as part of new pilot project
A new report recommends phasing out special education. Is this the right approach?
The NCSE recently recommended that all students with special needs ‘should be educated in mainstream schools’. Two parents debate the implications
All special needs students ‘should be educated in mainstream schools’, council recommends
National Council for Special Education urges move towards ‘fully inclusive’ schools for all pupils over the coming years
Four new special schools to be set up in Limerick, Meath, Wexford and Kildare in response to rising demand
Local areas could not meet demand among students with complex needs by expanding existing schools
Several private schools to provide special classes in drive to become ‘truly inclusive’
Spiritans say new special school in south Dublin forms part of congregation’s ‘mission for the future’
New special school opens in south Dublin: ‘It’s very emotional. We never thought it would happen’
South Dublin is traditionally underserved by special education. It may be the first of several to be established on the grounds of prestigious Spiritan-run schools
Two new special schools to be established in Cork and Dublin
Extra capacity for 11 schools and hundreds more special classes to be added in mainstream system
Authorities scramble to open new special-needs classes and schools for 100 children
New places will open as soon as possible, says Josepha Madigan
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