22 new special classes in schools across county

Twenty-two new special classes will be established in schools in Meath for the upcoming academic year, it has been confirmed. Each class will have six pupils, one teacher and one special needs assistant.

New classes will be established in six local post-primary schools including St Michael's, Loreto, Navan; St Peter's College, Dunboyne; O'Carolan College, Nobber; Enfield Community College; Ashbourne Community School and Athboy Community School.

The primary schools where new classes will be established include two in Ashbourne Community National school, two in Gaelscoil Eanna, Navan, two in Drumconrath NS, two in Scoil Nais Finin Naofa, Clonard as well as one each in Scoil an Spioraid Naomh, Laytown; St Oliver's NS, Navan; Dangan NS, Summerhill; Kentstown NS; Ballinlough NS; St Nicholas NS, Longwood; St Mary's Convent NS, Trim; Drumconrath NS; and Ratoath Junior NS.

Minister for Sport and the Gaeltacht and TD for Meath East Thomas Byrne welcomed the news that there are going to be 22 new special classes in Meath in September. “I thank all our local schools who are working so hard to make this happen in conjunction with the Department of Education and the National Council for Special Education.”

“Over 375 new special classes will be delivered nationally in September for around 2,300 children with additional educational needs. Additional building work is being carried out in schools across the country to provide either new classrooms or refurbish existing classrooms for the new special classes.

“The new special needs classes coming on stream will bring the overall number of special classes in our education system to more than 3,000 nationwide. I thank all those involved in delivering the new special classes, including the schools, the staff and the building firms.

“It is my absolute aspiration that we will come to a point where every child with additional educational needs will be able to attend their local school and that there will be no distance for them to travel. We are making progress in that respect.”