DISABILITY ADVOCACY ORGANISATIONS have called for a pause on a new special education class model announced by the Department of Education.

AsIAm and Inclusion Ireland said the Department held no consultation with parents, children or their representative organisations, before announcing 45 new special classes for the 2026/26 school year, five of which will be inclusive special classes.

The organisations attended a specially convened meeting of the Special Education Forum this afternoon to raise concerns and questions on yesterday’s announcement.

In a joint statement released today, the organisations said they raised a range of issues, including the proposed name of “Inclusive Special Class” and how the classes will operationalise in practice.

“Both organisations want to see a range of options available which are child-centred and inclusive, but we emphasised that any changes in the system must be co-designed with children and families,” they said.

They also said parents must have their rights to opt out of the model clearly communicated. 

The organisations said Department will provide further information and meet with them again next Wednesday afternoon.

‘Huge amount of questions’

Speaking to The Journal, AsIAm CEO Adam Harris said the lack of consultation by the government when it comes to special education has become a pattern, highlighting the special needs assistant (SNAs) controversy earlier this year.

Harris said AsIAm has several concerns relating to the new model of special education, including whether the environment of the new inclusive classes will meet children’s needs, and what the profile of children in the classes will be.

“The people who will experience these shifts in policy most profoundly are the ones who are not at the table and who do not have their voices heard,” AsIAm and Inclusion Ireland said in a statement. 

Harris said AsIAm has heard from concerned parents across the country after the announcement was made yesterday. “Families have a huge amount of questions,” he added.

Sinn Féin spokesperson for Special Education, Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh TD, has also criticised the announcement. 

“The announcement of these so-called ‘inclusive special classes’ has caused significant alarm among families and those working in special education,” she said in a statement this evening.

“At its core, this appears to be a proposal to increase class sizes for children with additional needs without a commensurate increase in staffing or supports. That is not inclusion, it is dilution.”

AsIAm and Inclusion Ireland said they have asked the Department to clarify its rationale for the proposal and sought assurance that the proposal is “grounded in inclusion, not cost-saving or resource-driven decisions”.

“In the meantime, we will continue to engage with the community on their concerns and questions and ensure timely information on the proposals,” they said. 

Department response

A spokesperson for the Department of Education and Youth: “Some schools are already leading the way and have been using this model of inclusive education for some time.”

“Yesterday’s announcement will now allow for this to continue but with additional teachers, SNAs and financial supports for the establishment of inclusive special classes.”

They said the change supports inclusive education by allowing students with additional needs to learn alongside their peers, while still getting extra support during the school day when needed.

“Research consistently shows that learning alongside typically developing peers supports stronger social integration, communication, and peer acceptance for children with special educational needs, rather than being confined to a single ‘special’ classroom,” they added.

“Inclusive environments foster collaborative learning and reduce social isolation, promoting more positive peer interactions and socio‑emotional growth.”

The spokesperson said the same level of staffing support applies as in a traditional special class, outlining that six students are allocated approximately 1.5 teachers at post‑primary level and two SNAs. 

“Depending on students’ needs, these teachers and SNAs may support students in mainstream classes, in the special class, or across both settings during the day. The needs of every student and school are different, so the purpose of this model is that the resources follow the students and are not allocated to a specific ‘room’.”

They said each inclusive special class will receive funding for one teacher (or 1.5 teachers at post‑primary level), two SNAs, extra capitation funding and access to training and support from the NCSE.

They said schools will also receive a €30,000 start‑up grant for furniture and equipment and funding for minor building works or repurposing works, where needed.

“At present students enrolled in special classes are supported to access mainstream classes. Each school is responsible at local level for managing these arrangements in line with the needs of individual students. Schools opening new inclusive special classes will manage these arrangements at local level as well in line with the needs of individual children.”

The spokesperson said the Department and the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) met with special education and parent advocacy groups, including both AsIAm and Inclusion Ireland today.

“The meeting provided the opportunity to provide information and clarity on the new inclusive special classes. Further engagement is planned for next week.”

“NCSE continue to monitor the level of need and engage with parents on an ongoing basis.”