Exclusion of Offaly school from new therapy service criticised

THE Government’s decision to exclude the Offaly Special School of Education from the first phase of the new Education Therapy Service (ETS) has been strongly criticised by Independent TD for Offaly, Carol Nolan.

The details of the first phase and selected schools were announced last week by Minister for Education and Youth, Hildegarde Naughton, and Minister for Special Education and Inclusion, Michael Moynihan.

The announcement confirms that the initial phase will cover 45 special schools located in the following counties: Carlow, Cork, Dublin, Galway, Kildare, Kilkenny, Louth, Laois, Limerick, Longford, Meath, Monaghan, Tipperary, Westmeath, Wexford and Wicklow.

Offaly is not included in this initial roll-out and has instead been scheduled for a later phase, with recruitment only anticipated for the county in March 2026.

Deputy Nolan described the continued exclusion of Offaly as deeply disappointing and unacceptable: “I have been raising concerns about the lack of clarity on this vital service since September last year, when the then Minister was unable to name a single school that would be included. Five months later, we finally have a list, and Offaly is conspicuously absent from the first phase.”

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“Children with special educational needs in Offaly deserve the same timely access to embedded therapy supports as children in the 16 counties that have been prioritised. Delaying the service in Offaly until at least March 2026 means that students, families and staff at the Offaly Special School of Education will have to wait longer for supports that the Government itself acknowledges are essential.“

“This phased approach, while presented as progress, effectively leaves some of our most vulnerable children behind. Parents and school communities in Offaly have been left in limbo for far too long, and today’s announcement does nothing to alleviate that uncertainty, indeed it simply confirms that other areas are being prioritised ahead of us.“

“I am calling on the Ministers to urgently review the phasing timetable and to guarantee that Offaly is included in the earliest possible expansion of the service. Every child who needs these therapies should have access to them without unnecessary delay.”

Deputy Nolan concluded by reiterating her commitment to continuing to press the Government on behalf of the Offaly Special School of Education and all families who rely on its services.

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