Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 October 2025
489. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth for a breakdown of the €16 million invested in school therapies in Budget 2026; and the number of SLTs and OTs she expects to provide, broken down by primary and post primary school. [55283/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra500. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth for a breakdown of the €16 million allocated in Budget 2026 to school-based therapies in special schools; when special classes and mainstream schools will start receiving these therapies; and when schools will receive this funding. [55313/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra512. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason the roll-out of school therapies is not coming into place with immediate effect following Budget 2026. [55325/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 489, 500 and 512 together.
The Education Plan 2025 confirms the government commitment to and approval of the establishment of the Education Therapy Service (ETS). Since then, the department have been actively engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), the Department of Children, Disability and Equality (DCDE), the Health Service Executive (HSE), the Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland (AOTI), the Irish Association of Speech and Language Therapists (IASLT) and school management bodies to help gather insights, identify priorities, shape how the ETS can be developed and how therapy supports can be effectively integrated within the school system. This preparatory work is required to ensure the effective and safe delivery of services to children in schools and alignment with existing services.
As has been indicated previously, it is anticipated that the ETS will commence in 45 special schools at a later stage in the 2025/26 school year and will be supported by a panel of 90 therapists comprising of senior and staff grade. The NCSE is currently preparing a large scale recruitment campaign which is anticipated to go live in the coming weeks. Further roll out of the service will occur on a phased basis with a wider roll-out to further special schools commencing in the 2026/27 school year. It is intended that this service will be available to schools with special classes and mainstream schools on a phased basis thereafter. This is not to replace HSE services but rather to compliment existing supports recognising that special schools support children with complex needs.
It is envisaged that school selection for the initial phase will be complete early in the 2025/2026 school year to ensure that selected schools have the opportunity to engage with the ETS prior to therapist assignment.
As outlined Budget 2026 allocated €16 million to in school therapies, this will facilitate the recruitment of further therapists and assist with the continued roll out of the ETS for all special schools in the 2026/2027 school year. Therapists will be based in the NCSE and assigned to schools. Clinical governance will be provided through a therapy management structure, ensuring robust clinical supervision.
My Department and the NCSE are committed to ensuring that in time all children and young people have access to essential speech and language and occupational therapy in a timely manner.
