Additional special education class for Coolarne NS

COOLARNE National School in Turloughmore has been approved for a new Autism/Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) class.

Minister for Education and Youth Hildegarde Naughton confirmed the sanctioning of further special education classes for the 2026/2027 school year.

The class will be delivered through the repurposing of existing available accommodation, allowing it to be established quickly to meet local demand.

Welcoming the announcement, Fianna Fáil TD for Galway East Albert Dolan commented that the additional class will provide much-needed capacity for students with additional educational needs and will support more families in accessing appropriate school placements within their local communities.

The latest announcement now brings the total number of new special and inclusive classes in Galway to 32.

“The new ASD class for Coolarne NS is particularly welcome and will make a real difference for children and families seeking appropriate local school places,” noted Deputy Dolan.

“The use of existing accommodation allows schools to respond more quickly to demand, which is crucial given the current pressure on places at present.

“Expanding provision through both new and repurposed classrooms is a practical and necessary approach, but we must continue to build on this progress to ensure that every child has access to the supports they need locally,” he continued.

Deputy Dolan also welcomed the continued expansion of inclusive special classes, which allow students to move flexibly between mainstream and specialist settings, depending on their individual needs.

“This model supports greater inclusion within our school communities and ensures that children can remain connected with their peers while receiving targeted supports,” said Deputy Dolan.