Oct 20, 2024, CorkBeo: Call to open Cork's new special school 'outside of the city' next year
The new special school promised for Cork should be opened outside the city to take pressure off teachers and families on Leeside.
That's the claim of Cork North Central rep Padraig O Sullivan, who was speaking after government confirmed five new special schools will be established across Ireland in 2025. One facility each will be set up in Cork, Monaghan and Tipperary, with two planned for Dublin.
The new schools will cater for children and young people with complex special education needs up to 18 years of age. It's planned that existing buildings will be repurposed for the project, and that each facility will open in time for the 2025/2026 school year.
Mr. O'Sullivan said the special school is 'undoubtedly needed' in the Rebel County, adding: "While the location of the new school is yet to be announced I understand that from speaking with various stakeholders that the establishment of a school North of the city and in the surrounding hinterland could alleviate capacity issues in existing city-based schools and reduce the numbers of students being taxied in to the city daily."
"Much work has been done in the last 4 years in terms of expansion of ASD classes and the opening of a new special school in Carrigaline but we still have so much more to do to ensure that each and every child has the opportunity to attend a suitable school."
His comments come as another special school, St. Killian's on the Northside of Cork city, campaigns to get long-term therapy supports for their students. The facility has 104 students with a diverse range of needs including dyslexia, dyspraxia, speech difficulties and autism.
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