(Ireland) Kildare: Criticism despite 5 new special schools, over 300 more places

June 25, 2025, Kildare Live: UPDATE: Department of Education responds to criticism of approach to special schools in Kildare 

The Department of Education and Youth has responded to criticism made by a local councillor which concerned the Department's approach to special schools in Kildare.

Social Democrats Cllr Chris Pender, who is based in Newbridge, yesterday (June 24 last) backed his party's Education Spokesperson's call to scrap special school redesignation plans.

He also notably said that the Department was displaying a "deeply damaging" approach.

The Leinster Leader contacted the Department yesterday for comment, and now (June 25), a spokesperson for the Department has responded to Cllr Pender's claims.

The spokesperson said: "The government is committed to the provision of additional special school places for children with more complex educational needs.

"Over 300 new special school places are being provided for the coming 2025 / 2026 school year.

They continued: "Five new special schools are being established in addition to the eleven new special schools opened over the last few years.

"Special school capacity is also being expanded across a number of special schools."

The spokesperson also noted that a new special school was opened at Craddockstown, Naas, County Kildare in September 2024, and added: "The school originally enrolled 24 students, and with the support of the Department, is expanding to provide over 40 places for the coming school year."

They further said: "It’s important to note that it is not the intention to exclude children who require a special school place from accessing certain special school settings, but rather allow children with complex educational needs apply to their local special school.

"Currently, there are instances whereby children with complex needs cannot apply for admission to their local special school simply because they don’t meet the narrow designation of that special school. 

"In that regard, along with providing additional special school capacity, the department and the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) also consider that it is necessary to look at the profile of our existing special schools.

According to the spokesperson, this is "not a new departure" — they elaborated: "The NCSE report that over half of these mild general learning disability (MGLD) special schools have diversified to allow children with more complex needs in their communities who require a special school setting enrol in their local special school.

"The Department and the NCSE will continue to support schools in this endeavour so that more special schools can better support children with complex needs in their local community.

"There are approximately 30 of the total of 129 special schools that were originally designated as schools for children with a MGLD.

"The establishment of these special schools predated the significant expansion in the range of supports offered in mainstream schools through additional special education teaching and special needs assistant resources and through the rapid expansion in special class provision.

"It is noted that many of the children enrolling in MGLD special school do so around the transition point from primary to post-primary."

The spokesperson concluded: "The new senior cycle level 1 and level 2 programmes offers a new curriculum pathway for students with special educational needs at post-primary level now also."