Disability advocacy groups say the phased return of special education does not go far enough for many thousands of children and their families.
Special education schools are due to reopen at 50 per cent capacity on February 11th, followed by special-needs classes in mainstream schools on February 22nd.
However, advocacy groups say many children in mainstream primary school classes and secondary school students are not part of the plan.
Adam Harris from autism charity As I Am says the return is welcome but it is regrettable that more children are not involved.
"I think it's really good that we finally had some serious engagement from all stakeholders. I think it's really important that there is a road map for the return to school, but what we really need to see now is for these commitments to be delivered and to be very quickly build upon.
"Every day that goes by there is serious consequences for our families and our young people."
Yesterday's agreement follows the collapse of two earlier planned reopenings.
Newly-agreed safety measures, in addition to declining community transmission of Covid-19, meant the reopening plan was now “as safe as it could possibly be” according to Fórse, the union representing Special Needs Assistants, while the Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO) said the plans are “proportionate" and "led by public health advice".
