Approval for four new special education classrooms in Laois school

St Francis Special School in Portlaoise is among the many schools in Laois to get new special education classrooms

Published 27th Jun 2026, 09:00 BST St Francis Special School in Portlaoise. St Francis Special School in Portlaoise is among the many schools in Laois to get new special education classrooms Approval has been granted to a school in Portlaoise for four new special education classrooms.

Laois TD Sean Fleming announced that St Francis Special School in Portlaoise has been given approval for four new special education needs classrooms to go to tender.

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Welcoming the announcement, Deputy Fleming said: “St. Francis Special School has an excellent reputation; the school is expanding and there is an urgent need for these new classrooms. Planning permission has been granted and the school was awaiting approval to go to tender.”

He added: “I arranged for the Minister for Special Education, Michael Moynihan TD, to visit the school and I am very pleased that within a few days of the Minister’s visit that he has now given the go-ahead for this project to go to tender.

“I look forward to this proceeding straight away so a builder can be appointed and construction commence as soon as possible.

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“This is good news for the school and the children who will need these additional resources in Portlaoise and the surrounding areas.”

A number of schools in Laois have received additional special education and autism classes in recent months.

Earlier this week, a further two special education classes were announced for St Colman’s NS in Stradbally as well as one mainstream classroom.

Both Holy Family Junior School and Holy Family Senior School in Portlaoise were recently approved for modular framework extensions for two special education classrooms in each of the schools.

Scoil Eoin in Portarlington was also approved for a modular framework extension for two special education classrooms.

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