(Ireland) Ed minister could force schools to open more SPED classes

Mar 24, 2025, RTE: Minister for Education will compel schools to open special classes

The Minister for Education has warned schools that she will not hesitate to use the legislative powers to compel them to open special classes to ensure there are enough school places for children with additional needs.

Helen McEntee will write to the Teaching Council to guarantee that all teachers are equipped to deliver education to all children.

Minister McEntee is asking the council to move towards a mandatory assessed placement period in a special education needs setting for all student teachers.

As part of this, it is envisaged the Teacing Council will conduct a survey across all Initial Teacher Education providers to gain a deeper understanding of special education settings.

Ms McEntee said she is determined that every child is supported to achieve their full potential.

She has committed to opening additional special classes and special schools, expanding the number of SNAs and special education teachers, and expanding the resources available to special schools.

Speaking on RTÉ's Today with Claire Byrne, Minister McEntee said there are many children in mainstream schools who do not need to be in special classrooms or schools but do need more support.

"It's about choice. It's about what's best for the child and that's the overall objective here," she said.

The objective is to have additional training in place for teachers by 2026, Minister McEntee added.

The minister said it is imperative that every teacher knows how to support every child in their classroom and this includes teachers in all schools - mainstream, special education classrooms and special schools.

"No matter where you are teaching, it should be the case that every teacher knows how to support that child whatever that additional need might be and at the moment I don't feel that that's the case," she said.

Ms McEntee said teachers want to meet this need, but that they need to be supported through training.

The minister said teacher placements should make sure that they have placements in a special education classroom or school and this should be supported by college modules.

More training needed, says INMO head

Irish National Teachers Organisation General Secretary John Boyle agreed that more training was needed for teachers who have children with additional needs in their classes.

Speaking on RTÉ's Today with Claire Byrne and in response to the Minister for Education, Mr Boyle said every teacher in the country is currently supporting children with special educational needs.

John Boyle suggested teachers could receive additional training in term-time

"There isn't one class in Ireland in any ordinary school that doesn't have a child with some special educational needs that needs help," he said.

"Every single mainstream teacher is going to be getting supports now for dealing with child protection and dealing with the new Cineáltas action plan for anti-bullying," he added.

But Mr Boyle said that "when it comes to special education, there's a really small, miniscule number of teachers who have got any training or any real supports".

"So, I think it's a good starting point with the students," he said.

Mr Boyle said that more places for teachers on the Special Education Diploma were needed to allow them to train.

He said there are currently about 250 places for teachers to receive training for special education delivery.

"It will take 80 years before every teacher is trained at this rate of going with the Special Ed Diploma only having 250 places," he added. . . .