Albert Dolan (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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492. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the Government's commitment to reintroduce therapists specifically speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, and other relevant allied health professionals into schools as outlined in the programme for Government and publicly reaffirmed during the 2024 general election campaign; the reason for the delay in implementing this commitment; whether a specific timeline for roll out has been agreed between her Department and the Department of Health; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39342/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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As you are aware, the 2025 Programme for Government commits to the commencement of a national therapy service in education. The Education Therapy Service (ETS), as referenced in the recently announced Education Plan, arose from this commitment.

The development and delivery of this service will be informed by detailed engagement with our colleagues in the HSE and stakeholders and will build on the National Council for Special Educations’ (NCSE) work previously completed through the Educational Therapy Support Service (ETSS) and the School Inclusion Model (SIM).

Officials in my Department have begun engagement with relevant Departments and agencies on the design, timelines, alignment, integrated working and costings involved to deliver this ambitious programme of work.

It is anticipated this service will commence in some special schools at a later stage in the 2025/26 school year. Further roll out of the service will occur on a phased basis with a wider roll-out in special schools, commencing in the 2026/27 school year. This service will be expanded overtime, to include special and mainstream classes. Initially the service will include the disciplines of Occupational Therapy and Speech and Language Therapy, over time further disciplines such as physiotherapy may be included.

The ETS will work alongside existing services such as CDNT’s and NEPS to ensure all children and young people have the opportunity to access supports in the right place at the right time, supporting the realisation of their full potential and engagement in their education.