Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 April 2025
758. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Education for an update on the new special school proposed for Nenagh announced in December 2024; in particular, the location of same, the progress on staffing and the approval by the appropriate regularity authorities; when registration will commence for students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18632/25]
View answerThis government is fully committed to supporting children with special educational needs to fulfil their full potential and the Programme for Government makes a number of commitments to deliver on this objective.
Dedicated working groups have been established by my department to work through the details in relation to the establishment of the five new special schools, for the 2025/26 school year, including the new special school in County Tipperary which is under the patronage of Tipperary Education and Training Board (ETB). Nenagh’s new special school is to be located on the Church Road by re-purposing the old Tipperary ETB building.
A new school principal has been appointed and the school is currently accepting offers for admission.
The school will provide for students with a diagnosis of Autism and complex learning needs or students with complex learning needs with a professional recommendation for a special school.
I understand that the school will initially admit 12 students. This number is in line with the level of need estimated by the NCSE at local level given the availability of places across other special schools in the region. The new special school with be the fourth special school in County Tipperary, the three existing schools currently have over 400 students enrolled.
The NCSE has also sanctioned 17 new special classes for the new school year in County Tipperary, each class has the capacity for six students. This will add to the 138 classes already in operation in the county.
My department and the local ETB will continue to review and assess the accommodation options available to allow the new special school to grow and expand over the next few years.
