Thomas Gould
Question:50. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether all schools included on the therapist pilot programme will retain therapists going forward. [28235/26]
View answerThursday, 23 April 2026
Questions (50)
Written answers
As referenced in Parliamentary Question 22860/26 of the 24th March 2026, on the 6th of February 2026, the Department of Education and Youth announced the phased rollout of the Education Therapy Service (ETS). It is important to highlight that this is the initial phase of the ETS rollout, with a wider roll-out to further special schools in the 2026/2027 school year and this new initiative will see all schools benefit in the coming years.
The NCSE has recently completed a recruitment campaign for Senior and Staff Grade Occupational and Speech and Language Therapists for the initial 16 counties, which include Cork, Dublin and Galway. The NCSE are currently offering posts to successful candidates in this campaign.
In line with the rollout of the ETS, any existing supports schools are currently receiving, including those under the enhanced in school therapy pilot will continue as usual.
My department will continue to engage with the HSE on the ETS model of service, to ensure a safe service provision of schools supports between HSE, including, those in the enhanced in-school therapy pilot, and NCSE services, as NCSE therapists are assigned to schools, in line with the phased implementation of the ETS.
The continued rollout of the ETS will be supported by further phased recruitment campaigns throughout 2026 to ensure therapy needs across the school system are met. We will be engaging with schools with updates as the rollout progresses.
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.