Additional capacity has been sanctioned for St. John’s Special School in Dungarvan.

Two modular classes have been secured following negotiations involving the Department of Education and Waterford politicians, school management,  the National Council for Special Education, school patron and a high profile campaign by parents.

It now brings to 16, the number of special classes that have been sanctioned for Waterford for the school year 2025/26.

The two modular units will be built on land which will be transferred to St. John’s from the adjoining St. Mary’s Primary School.

The issue has been raised in the Dáil in recent months and has featured prominently on WLR as parents have shared their struggles securing school places. The issue has also been the subject of demonstrations held locally.

In a statement, the school said: “Following ongoing discussions with officials from the Department of Education, the Board of Management of St. John’ Special School, together with the Board of Management of St. Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Dungarvan, are delighted to be in a position to announce the provision of additional places for children with special needs. Following the opening of a large extension in the recent past, St. John’s had no further room for expansion on the present site and thus was unable to provide any additional class places. A breakthrough to this dilemma came recently when the Board of St. Mary’s realised that they could help by transferring ownership of a part of their school grounds to their counterparts in St. John’s.  As the two schools are adjoining and share a boundary at the rear of St. John’s, this site will now enable St. John’s to expand by the provision of two modular units.”

Reviewing the draft plans for the new developments at St. John’s are Fiona Fitzgerald, Principal, St. Mary’s, Dungarvan, Ann Marie Rossiter, Chair BOM St. Mary’s, Bishop Cullinan, Patron, John Lawless, Chair BOM St. John’s Special School, Aoife o’Neill, Principal, St. John’s Special School.

Bishop Alphonus Cullinan who is patron of both schools has agreed to this idea and will facilitate the transfer of property. In tandem with this the Department of Education has agreed to provide two specially designed modular units consisting of two special education classrooms with quiet spaces and a multi activity area.  Alongside this, St. Mary’s recently secured a special needs class specifically for children who have a diagnosis of autism and which will cater for six children.

Ann-Marie Rossiter who is chair of the Board of Management of St. Mary’s welcomed the provision of the special class on their campus and said that the school was delighted to be able to help St. John’s who badly needed room to expand: “In this case, it’s a question of all working together, Patron, the Diocesan Education Office, Department of Education and the two schools so that more services can be provided for children with special needs”.

John Lawless who is chair of the Board of Management of St. John’s thanked all involved in the recent negotiations with a special note of thanks to St. Marys for their generosity. “This development will somewhat ease the pressure on special education places locally although I’m conscious that it will not solve the longer term problem. This is not just a local problem but it’s the same all around the country. There is an exponential rise in the numbers of children with a diagnosis of special need. Without strategic planning and major investment we will continue to face a crisis and exasperated parents face a scramble for places every year.”

Ms Aoife O’Neill, Principal at St. John’s, welcoming the news, said that the additional places will be a ‘godsend’ for a number of parents and their children.

“Two new classes will open, one will cater specifically for children in the severe to profound range of intellectual disability and the other class will cater for children with a mild or moderate intellectual disability,” she explained.

“We would like to do more but it’s the very best that is open to us at present.  We will continue to work towards a green field site and are heartened that the Department has given a commitment to enter discussions on this”.

Fiona Fitzgerald, Principal of St. Mary’s, welcomed the additional class for St. Mary’s and noted that  being part of the recent discussions with the Department, the Patron and her “neighbours” in St. John’s was a  positive experience that showed what could be achieved through creative thinking and partnership.

Ms. O’Neill said she will be in touch with the parents/guardians whose children are next in line on the waiting lists to offer places.  These offers will be subject to the completion of the building works, the recruitment of staff and provision of the necessary ancillary services.
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The school added that the “challenge now for all concerned is to commence work on the modular units immediately so that these are in place for September”.

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