Psychological Services for Schools: National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS): The National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) provides psychological services in public and private primary and post-primary schools and in related educational centres. NEPS is a service of the Department of Education and Skills (DES) and aims to support the personal, social and educational
Visiting Teacher Service: The Inclusion Support Service (which is part of the National Council of Special Education) operates Visiting Teacher Service (pdf) for deaf or hard-of-hearing children and children with visual impairments. Specially trained teachers provide the service. Visiting teachers aim to be a support to both the parents or guardian and
The Law on Special Needs Education: There have been significant legal changes in recent years concerning special needs education. These changes affect the rights of children with disabilities and other children who suffer educational disadvantage for whatever reason. Special needs education means the special education arrangements in place for children
Special Needs Education in Primary School: Children with special educational needs may be in ordinary classes in mainstream primary schools or in special classes in these schools. They may get additional educational support from learning support and resource teachers and care support from special needs assistants (SNAs). Information regarding special needs
Special Needs Assistants: Special needs assistants (SNAs) are allocated to schools to work with children who have specific care needs. They provide non-teaching care support. SNAs support pupils who have care needs resulting from a disability, behavioural difficulties or a significant medical issue. This might include a significant impairment of
Learning Support/Resource Teachers: A learning support teacher service is generally available to all primary schools. The Learning Support Guidelines (pdf) published by the Department of Education and Skills explain the aims and activities of learning support programmes. They include the procedures for identifying and selecting children who might have difficulty with reading
The Home Tuition Program: The Home Tuition Program provides funding to parents to provide education at home for children who (for a number of reasons, such as chronic illness) are unable to attend school. The scheme is also available to children with special educational needs who are awaiting a suitable educational
Educational Equipment Grants: The Department of Education and Skills gives a grant to schools to allow them to purchase equipment for use by students with a disability in second-level schools. The scheme applies to a student with a physical disability or a student who has a communications disability that makes
Overage Exemption for ECCE Scheme: The overage exemption option only applies to children with additional needs. Following the decision in December 2017 to allow for a consultation process on proposed changes to the rules on overage exemptions in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme, the Minister has acted
Early Childhood Education: Early childhood education generally means education before the start of formal schooling or before the age at which children are generally required to attend school. It covers the period from birth to 6 years. Legislation on school attendance requires children to be at school (or receiving an
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