Falling numbers may force special needs schools to close

SCHOOLS for pupils with special needs may be closed unless the Government directs parents towards them when mainstream schools are not suitable for their children, Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) president Austin Corcoran warned last night.

There are around 130 special primary schools catering for children whose learning disabilities mean their needs cannot be met in mainstream schools.

But the number of pupils attending such schools has fallen from more than 8,000 to 6,807 in the last decade.