There is good news on the horizon for parents of children with disabilities in Kerry as the Government expands the roll-out of therapists to school.
Three Kerry schools have been included in the latest announcement which includes 19 schools nation-wide.
Students attending St Ita’s and St Joseph’s special school in Tralee, Nano Nagle special school in Listowel and St Francis special school in Beaufort will now have access to speech and language therapists and occupational therapists on the school premises.
In line with available therapy resources, it is envisaged that these schools will have access to therapy supports by the end of the first school term of the 2026/27 academic year.
Principal of St Francis Special School in Beaufort Colin McGillicuddy, who met with Taoiseach Micheál Martin last week, said that this is something the school had hoped for.
He said the availability of therapist supports in schools will help each child reach their potential and will complement the educational pathway at the school for children.
“Hopefully it will make a big impact for all our pupils. What we want is for each child to reach their potential and this is a big step in helping them do this.”
Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Kerry TD Norma Foley has welcomed the roll-out of education therapies to three special schools in Kerry. The Education Therapy Service was introduced on a pilot basis after such therapists were removed from schools in 2020 with the view to move to more community -based schemes.
“I established the Education Therapy Service when I was Minister for Education to ensure that children and young people in special schools can access the right educational supports at the right time,” the Minister said, adding:
“I am very pleased that this service is now being rolled out to special schools including St Ita’s and St Joseph’s, Nano Nagle and St Francis special school. I look forward to further expansion of the service to more schools in Kerry.”
Deputy Michael Cahill (FF) said it is good news for parents in Kerry.
“Ensuring children with special educational needs have access to the right therapeutic supports is hugely important. Having therapists working directly within school communities can make a real difference to children’s ability to participate, learn and thrive,” he said.
“It is also very welcome that the ETS will now have a presence in every county with a special school. We must continue to build on this progress, with further expansion planned throughout 2027, so that children across Kerry and the country can access the supports they need.”
The Education Therapy Service is designed to supplement, not replace, existing children’s health and disability services in primary care, Children’s Disability Network Teams and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services.
The service is being delivered by the National Council for Special Education. It recently completed a recruitment campaign for 90 Occupational Therapists and Speech and Language Therapists. The first cohort of therapists was recruited in May this year, with further therapists continuing to join over the coming months.