Seven special classes announced for Waterford
At a protest at Leinster House, April 2025.
Up to seven Waterford schools, both primary and post-primary, are slated to receive special education classes for the 2026/27 academic year.
On Monday January 12, Minster for State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage John Cummins announced that seven Waterford schools would be allocated special classrooms for children with additional needs.
The Waterford schools will receive the classes as part of a tranche of funding from the Department of Education. The funding is understood to support 168 special classes nation-wide.
Over the past several years, parents in Waterford and beyond have protested against the lack of school spaces for their children. Parents have had to travel outside of Waterford to ensure their child's constitutional right to an education.
In April 2025, multiple parents from Waterford travelled to Dublin to call on the Government to deliver adequate educational classes and supports for their children. Many parents have had to face waiting lists and backlogs and other barriers to their children's education.
TD Cummins claimed that he has worked with the Education Minister, schools and parents to ensure that Waterford was 'prioritised' in the allocation process.
The Fine Gael Deputy said: "Today the government is announcing the sanction of 168 new special classes across 159 schools nationwide in this, the first tranche of classes to for the next school year. I’m delighted that seven of these will be in Waterford, four at post primary and three at primary level.
"I would like to thank my Fine Gael colleague Hildegarde Naughton and her predecessor Helen McEntee for the significant work that has gone into bringing forward the date for sanction significantly so that we have less uncertainty on much needed special class places right across the country. This is something which parents have continually called for, so I am delighted to see the sanction dates being brought forward.”
He went on: "This is an area I am deeply passionate about and I have consistently worked with schools, parents and line Minister to ensure that Waterford is prioritised when it comes to the availability of special class places. Last year, sixteen special classes were added across Waterford demonstrating the need that exists and I know these seven classes in tranche one will be welcomed by parents groups. I would like to put on record my thanks to the schools involved for their leadership in promoting inclusive education. A centralised admissions portal is also being trailed in a number of locations which I know the Minister is committed to rolling out nationally”
The schools receiving the classes are; Ard Scoil na nDeise, Dungarvan (Post-Primary), Ard Scoil Na Mara, Tramore (Post-Primary), Waterpark College, Waterford (Post-Primary), Presentation Secondary School, Waterford (Post-Primary), Scoil an Baile Nua, Kilmacthomas (Primary), Bunscoil Bothar na Naomh, Lismore (Primary), Mount Sion CBS National School, Waterford (Primary).
