8 February 2026
By Elaine Murphy
elaine@TheCork.ie
The Minister for Education and Youth, Hildegarde Naughton has announced details of the first phased roll-out of the new Education Therapy Services (ETS).
The Education Therapy Service (ETS), a standalone commitment under the Programme for Government, represents a major cross departmental initiative to strengthen supports for children with special educational needs. The new therapy service will be delivered by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).
The initial clusters will be based in Carlow, Cork, Dublin, Galway, Kildare, Kilkenny, Louth, Laois, Limerick, Longford, Meath, Monaghan, Tipperary, Westmeath, Wexford and Wicklow. Details of all schools included in this phase is outlined below.
North County Cork based Deputy John Paul O’Shea (Fine Gael) said “I am delighted to see the first phase of the new Education Therapy Service and the fact that the Holy Family School in Charleville has been selected as one of these Schools is fantastic. I look forward to seeing this service rolling out to the four Schools in Cork who have been selected for the first phase and to other Schools in Cork over the coming months as further phases are rolled out”.
Announcing the first 45 special schools to benefit from the Education Therapy Service, Minister for Education and Youth, Hildegarde Naughton, said:
“The Education Therapy Service represents a major step forward in how we support children with additional needs in our schools. By embedding therapists directly within school communities, we are ensuring that children can access timely, practical and joined-up support in the place where they learn every day.
“Today’s announcement marks the first phase in delivering this important service. The roll-out will continue throughout 2026, with further recruitment planned across Offaly, Sligo, Clare, Mayo and Roscommon in March 2026, followed by Donegal, Kerry, Cavan and Waterford by the end of June 2026. A rolling national recruitment campaign will continue to ensure therapy needs across the school system are met.
“I want to sincerely thank the schools, families and professionals who are helping to shape and strengthen this service. Their commitment is central to ensuring that every child who needs support can get the best possible start in life.”
Therapy supports will continue to be provided to 16 schools through the Enhanced In-School Pilot and to 4 special schools currently receiving support from the NCSE through sustained in-school therapy provision.
Engagements with all schools in this first phase will take place in the coming weeks and ahead of therapist assignment.
These initial clusters have been determined following robust engagement with the Department of Children, Disability and Equality (DCDE), the HSE, and the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).
A list of all Schools included in this first phase is as follows:
Official School Name County
- Saplings Carlow Special School Carlow
- North Cork Community Special School Cork
- Holy Family Special School Cork
- Sonas Special Primary Junior School Cork
- Cara Junior School Cork
- Belmayne Community Special School Dublin
- Lucan Community Special School Dublin
- Our Lady of Hope School Dublin
- Libermann Spiritan School Dublin
- Phoenix Park Specialist School Dublin
- Casa Caterina Special School Dublin
- Benincasa Special School Dublin
- St Declans Special School Dublin
- St Peters Special School Dublin
- St John of God Special School Dublin
- Scoil Mochua Dublin
- Central Remedial Clinic Dublin
- Red Door Special School Dublin
- Danu Community Special School Dublin
- ABACAS School Dublin
- St Josephs Special School Galway
- Ábalta Special School Galway
- Craddockstown Special School Kildare
- St Annes Special School Kildare
- St Raphaels Special School Kildare
- Saplings Special School Kildare
- Stepping Stones Special School Kildare
- School of the Holy Spirit Special School Kilkenny
- St Patricks Special School Kilkenny
- Jonah Special School Kilkenny
- Saplings Special School Kilkenny
- The Kolbe Special School Laois
- Limerick Community Special School Limerick
- St Vincents Special School Limerick
- St Christophers Special School Longford
- St Marys Special School Louth
- ABACAS School Louth
- Cara Community Special School Meath
- St Marys Special School Meath
- Monaghan Community Special School Monaghan
- Nenagh Community Special School Tipperary
- St Hildas Special School Westmeath
- Gorey Hill School Wexford
- St Patricks Special School Wexford
- Marino School N.S. Wicklow