Two Louth Special Schools included in new Education Therapy Services

News that two Special Schools in Louth have been included in the roll-out of the new Education Therapy Services (ETS), a new initiative to strengthen supports for children with special educational needs, has been welcomed by local Fine Gael TD, Paula Butterly.

Minister for Education and Youth, Hildegarde Naughton today announced details of the first phased roll-out of the new ETS.

The Education Therapy Service (ETS), a standalone commitment under the Programme for Government, represents a major cross departmental initiative to strengthen supports for children with special educational needs. The new therapy service will be delivered by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).

The initial clusters will be based in Carlow, Cork, Dublin, Galway, Kildare, Kilkenny, Louth, Laois, Limerick, Longford, Meath, Monaghan, Tipperary, Westmeath, Wexford and Wicklow. 

Announcing the first 45 special schools to benefit from the Education Therapy Service, Minister Naughton, said: “The Education Therapy Service represents a major step forward in how we support children with additional needs in our schools.

Read also: Efforts to protect local nature in north Louth receive major boost

"By embedding therapists directly within school communities, we are ensuring that children can access timely, practical and joined-up support in the place where they learn every day.

“Today’s announcement marks the first phase in delivering this important service. The roll-out will continue throughout 2026, with further recruitment planned across Offaly, Sligo, Clare, Mayo and Roscommon in March 2026, followed by Donegal, Kerry, Cavan and Waterford by the end of June 2026. A rolling national recruitment campaign will continue to ensure therapy needs across the school system are met.

Welcoming today's announcement, Deputy Butterly said “This initiative aims to bridge the gap between health and education services, ensuring that a child’s developmental needs are met exactly where they spend the majority of their day.

The inclusion of two Louth schools in the programme is “a significant win for families, teachers, and school communities", she continued. "This initiative is a recognition that education and health are inextricably linked. By embedding therapy services within the school gates, Ireland is moving closer to an inclusive system that truly supports the “whole child.”

"For parents, it provides a sense of reassurance that their child’s professional support team is working in harmony, all focused on a single goal helping the student to reach their full potential in a supportive, familiar environment."

The Louth TD emphasised that this is an issue she has advocated for and highlighted her ongoing engagement with special schools across Louth. “Since being elected, I have visited and met with the staff, parents, and principles of our special schools.

"They have been clear about the difference in‑school therapies make for children. I have supported this work from the outset and will continue to do so.”

The Minister's department said that therapy supports will continue to be provided to 16 schools through the Enhanced In-School Pilot and to four special schools currently receiving support from the NCSE through sustained in-school therapy provision.

It added that engagements with all schools in this first phase will take place in the coming weeks and ahead of therapist assignment. These initial clusters have been determined following robust engagement with the Department of Children, Disability and Equality (DCDE), the HSE, and the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).