Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 10 July 2025

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Youth

Proposed Redesignation of Schools for Children with Mild General Learning Disabilities: Principals of Special Schools

2:00 am

Ms Rose-Marie Flanagan:

My understanding is that, from a staffing point of view, schools will not be able to manage if they do not have appropriate teacher numbers and special needs assistants. That is at a very basic level. The changes would also impact on our capitation funding. We have to purchase a lot of extra materials and resources in comparison with a mainstream setting. The change would affect the running of our schools. Things are already really tight in terms of managing our finances to run our school effectively.