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Introduction

Special needs education means the special educational arrangements which are in place for children with disabilities. All children - including children with disabilities and children with special needs - have a constitutional right to free primary education. Children with special educational needs have the right to free primary education up to age 18 see 'The law on special needs education' below. In the Irish Constitution there is information about the role of the State in providing education and the rights of parents.

You are a person with special educational needs if your capacity to participate in and benefit from education is restricted due to an enduring physical, sensory, mental health or learning disability. The policy is to provide special needs education in mainstream settings as far as possible. The Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 (pdf) provides that children are to be educated in an inclusive setting unless this would not be in the best interests of the child or the effective provision of education for other children in mainstream education.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has published an information booklet for parents, Children with Special Educational Needs (pdf).
Education plans
Allocation Model

In 2017, a new assessment was introduced to determine how special education teachers are allocated to mainstream schools (pdf). Under the new system, each school gets a single allocation of special education teachers. The number of special education teachers allocation to a school is determined by the size of the school and its educational profile.

Schools are provided with the necessary resources in advance so that students with special educational needs can be enrolled into schools and access additional supports. The enables a school to be inclusive and put in place additional teaching support for students who need it. The Department of Education and Skills provides information for parents and guardians on how your child can get additional teaching support in school (pdf).

It was announced in May 2021, that the introduction of the frontloaded Allocation Model for Special Needs Assistants for students in mainstream classes in primary and post-primary schools will be deferred to the 2022-2023 school year.

You can read more about the new allocation model in our document on special needs education in primary and post-primary schools.

Transport

Special transport arrangements, including escorts and safety harnesses are available for children with disabilities attending school.

The Act:

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Special needs education means the special educational arrangements which are in place for children with disabilities. All children - including children with disabilities and children with special needs - have a constitutional right to free primary education. Children with special educational needs have the right to free primary education up to age 18 see 'The law on special needs education' below.

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Individualised Planning | National Council for Special Education - CPD and In-School Support

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Guidelines on the Individual Education Planning Process (NCSE, 2006)