Concern about delayed roll-out of special education therapy service in Offaly

An Offaly TD has expressed concern about the delay in rolling out the first phase of the new Education Therapy Service (ETS) to the Tullamore-based Offaly School of Special Education.

Deputy Carol Nolan described the exclusion of the Offaly school from a list of 45 schools which are earmarked to receive the new service as “deeply disappointing and unacceptable” and said she has been raising concerns about the lack of clarity around this vital service since last September.

A list of 45 schools which form part of the initial roll-out of the new service was announced by the Department of Education this morning (Monday), with Education Minister, Hildegarde Naughton, confirming that further recruitment is planned across five other counties, including Offaly, next month.

The Education Therapy Service, which is a stand alone commitment under the Programme for Government, is designed to strengthen supports for children with special educational needs, and will see therapy services being embedded into schools.

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, said Deputy Carol Nolan, who added that 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.“

The Independent deputy also claimed that the phased introduction of the scheme, while presented as progress, leaves “some of our most vulnerable children behind” and has left parents and school communities across Offaly “in limbo.”

She has called on the Minister for Education and Special Education to urgently review the phasing timetable and to guarantee Offaly's inclusion in the “earliest possible expansion of the scheme.”

Speaking at the announcement of the roll-out of the Education Therapy Service, Minister for Education and Youth, Hildegarde Naughton, described the new service as “a major step forward” in how children with additional needs are supported in the school system.”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.”

The Minister also confirmed that 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 also continue to ensure therapy needs across the school system are met.