Four Kilkenny special schools to benefit from new services

Forty-five schools nationwide have been announced for the first phase of the programme

Published 7th Feb 2026, 15:46 BST Saplings Special School in Goresbridge is one of the Kilkenny schools included in the initial phase of the programme Forty-five schools nationwide have been announced for the first phase of the programme Sign up to our Kilkenny Live newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know you can manage your profile, and explore all of the available newsletters from Kilkenny Live within your account.

Several special schools in Kilkenny are set to be included in the roll-out of the new Education Therapy Services to be delivered by the National Council for Special Education.

School of the Holy Spirit, St Patrick’s, Jonah Slieverue and Saplings Goresbridge were announced by Minister for Education and Youth, Hildegarde Naughton, TD and Minister for Special Education and Inclusion, Michael Moynihan TD, as the Kilkenny special schools involved in the initial cluster.

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The programme will see therapists embedded directly into school communities and aims to deliver speech and language and occupational therapy more efficiently to children with special educational needs.

Speaking about the inclusion of local special schools and the provision of more joined-up supports, Leas-Cheann Comhairle and Fianna Fáil TD for Carlow/Kilkenny, John McGuinness said: “This is a very positive and practical step forward for children with additional needs and for their families across Carlow and Kilkenny.

“Families have long highlighted the challenges and stress involved in accessing therapy services. This initiative will ease that burden and strengthen the link between education and therapy, while complementing existing health and disability services.”

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