Waterford set for more special education classes amid parents ‘crippled with worry’

An additional 12 special education classes are set to be in place in County Waterford for the next academic year, the Government has announced.

The Department of Education has provided funding for the establishment of an additional 32 special classes nationwide for the 2026/27 academic year.

12 of these classes will be placed in Waterford, namely in the following schools: Rathgormack NS, Scoil An Baile Nua, Ballymacarbry NS, Mount Sion Primary School, Presentation Secondary School, Bunscoil Bhothar na Naomh, Ard Scoil na nDéise, Mount Sion CBS Secondary School, Waterpark College, Ardscoil Na Mara and Scoil Lorcain.

Minister of State and Waterford Fine Gael TD John Cummins welcomed the announcement, saying he was “delighted” with the news.

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Minister Cummins stated: “As someone who comes from an educational background, I have seen first-hand the benefits which flow from having ASD classrooms within the school community.

“Not only is it a really positive thing for students with additional needs, it’s also important for the wider school population in teaching empathy, understanding and inclusion.

“I am on record as saying that I believe every school at primary and post primary level should have specific provision for students with additional needs.

“ASD classrooms provide a smaller classroom environment where students can learn and flourish.

“While we still have a way to go to get to that point, we have made positive strides towards ensuring more families in Waterford are able to get an appropriate place close to home.”

Meanwhile, Waterford Sinn Féin TD Conor McGuinness spoke on the subject of special education during a recent Dáil debate.

Deputy McGuinness said: “The Government is sleepwalking children, families and schools into a crisis in September.

“It surely can see what is coming, yet for whatever reason it continues to fail children with additional needs.

“Across the State, children are still waiting for appropriate school places. In Waterford, I am in touch with so many parents crippled with worry, deeply angry that they are being forced to fight to secure a basic right to education.

“Educators are being forced to fight to protect their roles, out of protest to be allowed to continue supporting children.”

He went on to highlight the situation facing a mother in County Waterford.

“Sabrina is a mam. She told me her youngest is seven and non-verbal. They have no speech and language therapy.

“They cannot get equipment because there is no senior therapist to sign it off. They even had to take the HSE and the Department to the High Court just to get a school place.”

Deputy McGuinness also outlined the struggles of a special needs assistant (SNA) in his constituency.

“Katie, an SNA, said it is heartbreaking to see children still waiting for placements. She said they are severely understaffed and underpaid.

“The job is physically, emotionally and mentally demanding. There is no risk pay, even when staff are injured.

“They support safety, learning, communication and care all at once without the support needed to do it properly.”

He concluded by criticising the Government for their approach to the funding of special education.

“We in Sinn Féin and parents and educators across the State have been warning of this for years but the Government has failed to act.

“Classes are being redesignated without consultation. Supports are being diluted. Children are being denied access based on need.

“The Government has failed to plan, failed to invest and failed to deliver. It is a political choice and it has always been a political choice but the Ministers have always made the wrong one. It needs to be reversed now.”

In response to Deputy McGuinness and a number of other contributors, Minister for Education Hildegarde Naughton defended the Government’s actions.

Minister Naughton said: “In 2026, more than €3 billion will be spent on special education. This is the highest ever annual provision and represents a 58% increase over the funding provided in 2020.

“Since 2020, we have almost doubled the number of special classes in our primary schools, going from 1,319 to 2,629.

“We now have more than twice the number of special classes in our post-primary schools, going from 517 to 1,112.”

She also highlighted the number of special schools that have opened, as well as funding provided for extensions to existing schools.

“Some 16 new special schools have been opened and four more will open for the next school year, 2026-27.”

“Special school enrolments have increased by 20% since 2020. More than 40% of special schools have benefited from new or upgraded buildings.

“We continue to invest in our special education teachers and SNAs, and there will be close to 22,500 SETs and approximately 25,000 SNAs in our schools by the end of the year.”

Minister Naughton concluded by acknowledging that there is work to be done and that a “common consensus” must be reached on the subject of special education.

She added that the Government is committed to supporting special education and wants to support children with additional needs as best as it can.