Three more Special Classes have been sanctioned for Tipperary by the National Council for Special Education(NCSE) for the coming school year 2025/2026.
All three are at the Primary School level and include one class each at Scoil Eoin Naofa in Roscrea, SN Peadar agus Pól National School in Clonmel and Moyglass N.S. in Fethard.
Deputy Michael Lowry confirms that, to date, 15 SEN classes have been sanctioned for Tipperary. 7 will be established at Primary School level, with 8 in Post-Primary Schools across the county.
The next step is for these schools to proceed with admission processes and Education Minister Helen McEntee has asked that the NCSE work with these schools to ensure that they move to offer places to students over the coming weeks.
Despite the rollout of new places families are still facing difficulties in securing a suitable school place for children with Special Needs.
Autism services campaigner Cara Darmody has shared that her bother is unable to find a place for September. The family have shared a letter issued by Scoil Aonghusa in Cashel that states that due to the demand for places the class is full and that there is no place for the child in September. The letter does indicate that the boy is first on the waiting list for a place in a severe autism class for children aged 12 to 18. Ms Darmody says the Government is reckless as to whether her brother suffers further permanent damage and adds that her mother is distraught due to the lack of a suitable school place for her son in September.
