Concern about delayed roll-out of special education therapy service in OffalyAn Offaly TD has expressed concern about the delay in rolling out the first phase of the new Education Therapy Service (ETS) to the Tullamore-based Offaly School of Special Education. Deputy Carol Nolan described the exclusion of the Offaly school from a list of 45 schools which are earmarked to receive the new service as “deeply disappointing and unacceptable” and said she has been raising concerns about the lack of clarity around this vital service since last September. A list of 45 schools which form part of the initial roll-out of the new service was announced by the Department of Education this morning (Monday), with Education Minister, Hildegarde Naughton, confirming that further recruitment is planned across five other counties, including Offaly, next month. The Education Therapy Service, which is a stand alone commitment under the Programme for Government, is designed to strengthen supports for children with special educational needs, and will see therapy services being embedded into schools. A rolling national recruitment campaign will also continue to ensure therapy needs across the school system are met.

Source: Irish Independent February 09, 2026 20:15 UTC