Report Published on Future Planning for Special Education in Dublin 15
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Minister for Education and Youth, Hildegarde Naughton, and Minister of State for Special Education and Inclusion, Michael Moynihan, have today published the report of the ‘Taskforce to support forward planning of special education in the Dublin 15 area’. Following a meeting earlier today (Wednesday), a separate update report was also released outlining the progress made on the group’s recommendations to date.
To support the forward-planning work of the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), the Taskforce was set up in October 2024 to look at future special education needs in the Dublin 15 area. Its membership brought together a broad range of perspectives, including parents, school representatives, and officials from the NCSE, the Department of Education and Youth, the Department of Children, Disability and Equality, and the Health Service Executive (HSE).
The report sets out 21 key recommendations aimed at addressing the challenges facing children with special educational needs in Dublin 15, while also informing policy and forward planning for special education provision more broadly.
Minister Naughton said:
“This report provides a strong, evidence‑based framework to support more effective forward planning for special education in Dublin 15. It reflects the meaningful; collaboration between parents, schools and partner agencies, and the shared commitment for improving outcomes for children and families.
“The insight, experience and dedication of parents and school leaders have been central in shaping both the report and its recommendations. I want to sincerely thank all members of the Taskforce for their time, expertise and constructive engagement throughout this process.
The Taskforce’s work offers valuable learning that can help inform national policy, supporting a more consistent, joined‑up and forward‑looking approach to special education provision across the country.”
Minister Moynihan said:
“The Taskforce’s recommendations have helped and will continue to guide real, practical improvements in special education provision, building on progress already underway to better meet the needs of children and families in the area.
“While rooted in the needs of Dublin 15, this report has clear national relevance and will help inform how we plan and deliver special education more strategically across the country.
“It was great to once again meet representatives from the Taskforce today to provide an update on how the recommendations have advanced, as well as discussing a number of issues in the D15 area being faced by families and schools. I want to again sincerely thank the parents, principals and advocates whose lived experience, time and commitment were central to the Taskforce’s work.”
Significant progress is being made in many of these areas, including the establishment of a new Education Therapy Service, increased capitation funding for special schools, substantial capital investment through the National Development Plan (NDP) to support special education provision and ongoing work to develop and expand the pilot common application system for admission to schools.
In the Dublin 15 area, the NCSE has already sanctioned 12 new special classes for the forthcoming 2026/27 school year. This will increase the number of special classes in mainstream schools in the Dublin 15 area to 94, up from 33 in 2020 reflecting significant growth in local capacity. Further new special classes are expected to be confirmed shortly.
Work is progressing also to identify opportunities to expand capacity at Danu Community Special School in Dublin 15, enabling the enrolment of additional pupils for this school year.
Lucan Community Special School, in a neighbouring school planning area, opened for the current school year and is one of six new special schools established in Co. Dublin in recent years. This special school will also increase its capacity for the coming school year strengthening special education provision in the wider area.
Furthermore, two of the four new special schools recently announced will be established in Co. Dublin for the 2026/27 school year. The NCSE will continue to advise parents at local level regarding these developments.
Both the taskforce reprt and implementation report can be found here:
Notes to editor
Work progressing to develop a more inclusive education system
Over the last three years, whilst significantly increasing special education capacity, the Department has also been undertaking extensive work to reform special education policy and move towards a more inclusive, high quality education experience for all children and young people. This work has included: -
- A major review of the EPSEN (Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs) Act 2004, involving input from almost 30,000 people and stakeholder organisations. An Action Plan has also been developed to implement the Review’s findings
- Engagement with the European Agency on Special Education to assist us to build on the NCSE policy advice of 2024 Towards Inclusion and develop a new Roadmap for Inclusive Education
- Development of a new Education Therapy Service
- Development of a new Workforce Plan for our near 25,000 strong SNA workforce. This includes a new contract and a greater focus on training and development for example.
- A significant focus of the School Transport Scheme Review published in 2024 was on the special education element of the scheme
- In addition, the Department is trialling a number of pilot programmes aimed at supporting the development of inclusive practices in schools. These include the Towards Inclusion programme which links mainstream and special schools, a Transitions programme aimed at supporting students with special educational needs into post-school options and Saibhriú which focuses on students with exceptional abilities. Further programmes will be introduced in the coming school year. Learning from these programmes will inform policy development.