Several autism classes waiting for dedicated buildings

Mon, 26 Jan, 2026 - 01:00

Jess Casey

At least two primary schools approved to set up autism classes last September, in areas where there is a great need for such classes, have yet to open buildings for their students.

Works to open four new classes, with places for 24 students, at St Mary’s Boys National School in Lucan and at Finglas Parochial National School have yet to commence.

Both schools were sanctioned to open two new classes each for September 2025, and both are included on the list of special classes open in 2025 that was published by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).

As building works to install modular buildings have yet to begin, a number of parents who spoke with the Irish Examiner now fear the classrooms will not be completed in time for September 2026.

In the case of Finglas Parochial National School, some children are attending half days with the school in a nearby community hall while also availing of home tuition. Others have remained with their pre-schools for an additional year due to the delays.

Planning permission for the building works at the school has yet to be secured. This comes after Dublin City Council sought further information in relation to the project.

A statement from the school’s board of management said it was very disappointed by the “unacceptable delays” in the provision of specialised classrooms. It added:

We continue to advocate in the strongest terms for our pupils, and we look forward to building work commencing as soon as possible.

A spokesperson for Dublin City Council said it does not comment on specific planning applications.

In a statement, the Department of Education said the response to this further information request will be submitted shortly.

“The project will be delivered as quickly as possible after receipt of planning permission and with the support of project managers,” a department spokesperson said.

A two-classroom special education needs modular project was also approved by the department for St Marys BNS, Lucan, the spokesperson confirmed.

The project is being delivered under the department’s modular accommodation programme, which “enables the accommodation to be provided within the earliest possible timeline”.

The spokesperson said: “The department is awaiting formal sign-off on the precise location of the modular project on the school site and is in contact with the school.

“Project managers are supporting the school with the delivery of the project, and will be keeping it updated on the overall delivery programme.”

The NCSE did not respond to a request for comment.

The Department of Education declined to provide the total number of schools sanctioned to open special classes in 2025 that are without a physical building.

It said 80% of all new special classes are being provided in schools with existing accommodation, with the department supporting those schools with additional grant funding to facilitate re-purposing works.

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The spokesperson said: “Where schools require additional accommodation, usually in the form of modular accommodation, this is being fast-tracked by the department to be delivered as quickly as possible.

“In the meantime, the schools concerned, who have been sanctioned teachers, SNAs [special needs assistants], and have availed of the necessary training to support the opening of the classes, will be supported by the NCSE in any contingency arrangements which may be required pending the delivery of the accommodation.

“In many cases, these schools have spaces which can be used to support the contingency arrangements, including general purpose rooms, so it can be expected that they will be able to support children during this period.”