A NEW special class has been sanctioned at St Aidan’s National School, Shannon, for the 2026/27 school year.
The new class is one of 10 additional special classes approved nationally today, bringing the total number of new special classes sanctioned for mainstream schools for the 2026/27 school year to 575.
Minister of State & Clare TD Timmy Dooley (FF) welcomed today’s announcement by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), saying “This is excellent news for St Aidan’s National School, Shannon, and for families across the area who are seeking appropriate educational supports for their children. The provision of this new special class will help ensure that more children can access the education they need within their own community”.
“I want to acknowledge the work of the school leadership, staff and parents who continue to advocate for enhanced educational provision. Expanding special education capacity remains a key priority for government and today’s announcement represents another positive step in ensuring every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential. I look forward to seeing this new class become operational and to continuing to work with schools and families throughout Clare to deliver the supports that children need”, the Mountshannon native added.
The new class at St Aidan’s NS will cater for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and will be accommodated through the repurposing of existing available accommodation within the school.
The school was established in 1982 following a long campaign to cater for a growing population in the county’s second town. Feakle native and former Clare hurling manager Ger Loughnane served as principal of the school for 30 years before his eventual retirement in 2012. The school catered for 274 students along with 12 teachers and 5 SNA posts as of 2025.
The announcement forms part of the ongoing nationwide expansion of special education provision, with 575 new special classes now approved for mainstream schools for the 2026/27 academic year.
