Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 February 2026
342. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Youth if further supports will be given to the current cohort of schools not included in the phased roll-out of the education therapy service (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13586/26]
View answerOn 6th February 2026, the Department of Education and Youth announced the phased rollout of the new Education Therapy Service (ETS), delivered by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE). It is important to highlight that this is the initial phase of the ETS rollout which will occur on a phased basis with a wider roll-out to further special schools within the 2026/2027 school year and a new initiative which will see all schools benefit in the coming years.
NCSE Speech and Language Therapists (SLTs) and Occupational Therapists (OTs) will work in collaborative partnership with schools and existing supports and services.
Initial schools and clusters have been determined through detailed and robust engagement with the NCSE, HSE and the Department of Children, Disability and Equality (DCDE) to ensure transparency and alignment of services. A framework, including a weighting system, was developed to identify schools for inclusion in the initial phase of the ETS.
The initial clusters will be based in Carlow, Cork, Dublin, Galway, Kildare, Kilkenny, Louth, Laois, Limerick, Longford, Meath, Monaghan, Tipperary, Westmeath, Wexford and Wicklow. The continued rollout of the ETS will be supported by phased recruitment campaigns throughout 2026 to ensure therapy needs across the school system are met, including a recruitment campaign in Donegal, Kerry, Cavan and Waterford by the end of June 2026. A rolling national campaign will continue later in 2026.
Where a school cannot be offered ETS strand 1 supports in this cohort, the school can avail of NCSE regional therapy provides national therapy led Teacher Professional Learning (TPL) events. This therapy-led TPL, with follow-on implementation support, is available to all school and is accessible online at: www.ncse.ie/tpl
My Department and the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) are committed to delivering an education system that is of the highest quality and where every child and young person feels valued and is actively supported and nurtured to reach their full potential.
