This all comes as within Government a serious row has been raging over existing spending levels. Increasing staffing numbers, growing costs of special needs education and a doubling in the amount spent on school transport are among its concerns. Increases in children with additional needs, now one in four or 240,000 children, have driven an unprecedented expansion in special education. There are 16 new special schools, 4,000 new special classes, and thousands of additional teachers and special needs assistants,” a spokeswoman for the Minister said. The Department of Public Expenditure has been concerned for some time, in particular about special needs education and school transport.

Source: The Irish Times April 06, 2026 05:09 UTC