Education

Special education centres could pair with local school for ‘integration days’

Plan follows backlash against proposed special education centres in Dublin

Josepha Madigan, the Minister of State for Special Education, said last week that it was ‘regrettable’ the proposal had come into the public domain before it was discussed with advocacy groups. Picture: Fergal Phillips

Proposed special education centres could pair with local schools to ensure “integration days” for pupils under plans being considered by the government following a backlash against the proposals last week.

It comes following a story broken by the Irish Times last week that the government was planning to open four special education centres in Dublin as an emergency response to a shortage of school places for children with autism and other intellectual disabilities.

The plans ...