(Ireland) Dublin: SPED 'crisis'; 111 special needs students not coping in mainstream school
- The end of childhood
- Oct 8
- 3 min read
Oct 6, 2025, Irish Independent: Special education ‘crisis’ in Dublin 15 as 14 children delayed admission to school
A councillor in Dublin 15 is campaigning for a second special education school in the area, after 14 students with additional needs had their education delayed by a year.
John Walsh, Labour councillor for Blanchardstown, said there is an ongoing “crisis” in special education in the Dublin 15 area.
He raised a motion at a Fingal County Council (FCC) area meeting asking for the Department of Education to provide a second school to accommodate students in the area.
Students enrolled at Danu Community Special School were unable to start for a full school year as a modular building meant to accommodate them was not built on time.
“Danu is an outstanding school community which has done outstanding work, but it has been treated very badly by the Department of Education,” Mr Walsh said.
“It’s a matter of public record that 14 students with additional needs who were enrolled in Danu were unable to start for a full school year last year because the Department didn’t provide the necessary modular accommodation.”
The students are expected to begin classes this month after the new buildings were completed.
“The new modular accommodation has just been provided now. Students were further delayed at the start of this academic year – they can only start classes in mid-October,” Mr Walsh said.
“The principal of the school was forced to write a letter to the parents, and you can imagine their anger.
“We need to reiterate our support for Danu and ask the Department to get its act together.”
The councillor also added that the new students being enrolled in the school will not be given therapeutic care.
“There was no commitment from the HSE to give the new students therapeutic care – so they’re essentially being threatened with a second rate experience,” he said.
“The therapeutic support is already in place for the students there, but it will not be available for new students entering.”
Research conducted by principals from Dublin 15 found that 111 students with additional needs in the area have not been coping with their placement in “mainstream” schools between 2023 and 2024.
They also found a significant number of students in special classes who were determined to require a special school placement.
“Danu will have 48 students when those new children enter in the next few weeks,” Mr Walsh said.
“There’s no scope for Danu to expand further unless it has a new purpose-built building which is still a few years away.
“The indefinite expansion of one special school isn’t realistic, we desperately need a second one in Dublin 15.”
When the motion was carried, FCC management agreed to send a letter to the Minister for Education highlighting the councillors’ concerns.
“There’s an ongoing crisis in special education in our area that causes grief and hardship for parents and denies equal educational opportunities for children with these needs,” Mr Walsh said.
“We have a growing population, we have more students in the area that need support, and one single school is just not enough to meet that need.
“It’s important as local representatives who see these issues up close to say something. None of us should find that acceptable.”
The Department of Education has been contacted for comment.
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