Four new special schools announced

Details have been announced for the creation of four special schools in Cork as part of an initiative to improve supports for children with additional needs.

The new schools will be located in Carrignavar, Charleville, Carrigaline, and Mayfield.

They will form part of the first phased roll-out of the new Education Therapy Services (ETS) delivered under the Programme for Government.

Overall, 45 schools were announced nationwide, whose services will be delivered by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).

Under the ETS, therapy is delivered through a multi-tiered model of support that responds to children’s individual needs while also fostering inclusive environments where all learners can meaningfully participate.

Announcing the plans was Fianna Fáil TD for Cork North-West and Minister for Special Education and Inclusion, Michael Moynihan, who described the news as a “major step forward” for Ireland. “By embedding therapists directly within school communities, we are ensuring that children can access timely, practical, and joined-up support in the place where they learn every day. This will be a major support to children and their families and is another way to ease the stress families can sometimes face in accessing therapy supports.

“The roll-out will continue throughout 2026, with further recruitment planned over the coming months, with additional schools added to the ETS in time,” added Minister Moynihan.

The NCSE recently completed a recruitment campaign for senior and staff grade occupational therapists and speech and language therapists, with interviews scheduled for this month.

The recruitment of therapists and the recent appointment of the Head of Therapy represent significant steps toward full rollout of ETS in special schools and in special classes within mainstream settings. It is expected that future campaigns will also recruit additional therapy grades, including therapy managers, clinical specialists, and tTherapy assistants.

The four Cork schools are: North Cork Community Special School, Carrignavar; Holy Family Special School, Charleville; Sonas Special Primary Junior School, Carrigaline; Cara Junior School, Mayfield.