12 new special classes in Waterford for 2026/27 school year

Minister of State for Planning & Local Government, John Cummins TD has welcomed news that 12 new special classes will be in place across a variety of Waterford schools for the 2026/27 academic year.

An additional 32 special classes have been sanctioned by the Department of Education today, bringing to 464 the overall number of new special classes sanctioned for mainstream schools nationwide for 2026/27.

In Waterford, new classes will be established in the following schools.

• Rathgormack National School

• Scoil An Baile Nua, Newtown, Kilmacthomas.

• Ballymacarbry National School

• Mount Sion Primary School

• Presentation Secondary School, Waterford.

• Bunscoil Bhothar na Naomh, Lismore.

• Ard Scoil na nDeise, Dungarvan.

• Mount Sion CBS Secondary School

• Waterpark College

• Presentation Secondary School

• Ardscoil Na Mara, Tramore.

• Scoil Lorcain

Minister Cummins said: “Today the Government have announced a further 32 special classes nationwide, bringing the total for 2026/27 to 464 new classrooms across the country. I’m delighted that 12 of these will be in Waterford, following on from the establishment of a further 16 classrooms in the 2025/26 school year – bringing the total in mainstream schools across the county to 98 from September onwards. I would like to thank my Fine Gael colleague, Minister Hildegarde Naughton and her predecessor Helen McEntee for the significant work being done in relation to special education, an area which I am deeply passionate about.”

“As someone who comes from an educational background, I have seen first-hand the benefits which flow from having ASD classrooms within the school community. Not only is it a really positive thing for students with additional needs, it’s also important for the wider school population in teaching empathy, understanding and inclusion. I am on record as saying that I believe every school at primary and post primary level should have specific provision for students with additional needs. ASD classrooms provide a smaller classroom environment where students can learn and flourish. While we still have a way to go to get to that point, we have made positive strides towards ensuring more families in Waterford are able to get an appropriate place close to home”.

He concluded by saying: “I also want to acknowledge the advocacy groups whom I have worked with in this area. I share their passion and drive to ensure we have adequate resources and school places for their children and I will continue to work collaboratively with them in the time ahead to ensure that Waterford is prioritised when it comes to the availability of special class places. I also want to acknowledge the school principals, staff and boards of management who have agreed to establish special classes, their commitment to inclusive education is to be commended and I also look forward to working with them all in the time ahead.”