Ministers Foley and Madigan confirm the location of two special schools in Kildare and Limerick

Minister for Education Norma Foley TD and Minister of State for Special Education and Inclusion Josepha Madigan TD have today (Friday, 22 March) confirmed the location of two new special schools in Limerick and Kildare. This follows their announcement on 6 December 2023 of the establishment of four new special schools for the 2024/2025 school year in Limerick, Kildare, Meath and Wexford to cater for young people with autism and complex learning needs up to 18 years of age.

The initial start-up location for the new special school in Kildare will be at the Craddockstown Education Campus beside Naas Community National School. The longer-term location for this new special school, which is under the patronage of Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board will be confirmed in due course.

The location of the new special school in Limerick is in the school building currently occupied by Mungret Community College.

Mungret Community College will be moving to a new campus which is at an advanced stage of construction in September 2024.The Department of Education and Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board are progressing the preparations for the reconfiguration of the new special school. This new special school is under the patronage of Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board.

Minister Foley said:

“I am delighted to confirm the locations of the two new special schools in Limerick and Kildare. This is a further sign of this government’s commitment to delivering an inclusive education system that is inclusive, open and welcoming to everyone.

“Budget 2024 dedicates in excess of €2.7 billion to providing supports for children with special educational needs. There are now more than 3,000 special classes in operation, with around two-thirds of them being set up during this government’s term in office.

“Our school communities have demonstrated a real commitment to inclusion. I would like to thank those involved in supporting the continued establishment of special classes and special schools.”

Minister Madigan said:

“As Minister of State for Special Education and Inclusion I’m pleased that we are able to confirm the location of the two new special schools today.

“This is an important day for children with special educational needs in the Kildare and Limerick areas, and their parents. These new special schools will initially enrol 48 students in total next September and that enrolment will increase further over the coming years.

“It’s vital that our education system provides school placements that meet the individual needs of all students and special schools continue to be an important element of that provision.

“I would like to thank Kildare and Wicklow ETB, Limerick and Clare ETB and the schools involved for working in partnership with us to open these two new special schools, this is a significant step in catering for the level of need in these geographical areas.”

It is expected that both new special schools will cater for 24 students initially. The admission policy for the new special school in Limerick has been published and it is expected that the admission policy for the new special school in Kildare will be published shortly.

The other new special schools in Enfield Co. Meath and Gorey Co. Wexford have already commenced their admission process and have made offers of enrolment to students.

Working groups to progress the establishment of all four new special schools have been meeting on a regular basis since December 2023, with a particular focus on developing admission policies for the new special schools and commencing the recruitment campaign for staff. These working groups are made up of members of the relevant Education and Training Board, the Department and the National Council for Special Education.