Special Educational Needs Support in Ireland: A Parent's Guide

If your child has additional or special educational needs, navigating the Irish system for support can feel overwhelming at first. This guide explains the key terms — SENO, SNA hours, ASD units — and walks through how to apply for support and what to do if you disagree with a decision.

What support is available for children with special educational needs?

Ireland's system for supporting children with special educational needs (SEN) operates mainly through the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) and individual schools, with input from the HSE for children who need therapy services. Support can include extra teaching hours (learning support or resource teaching), Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support for care needs, placement in a special class (such as an ASD unit) within a mainstream school, or, for children with more complex needs, a place in a special school.

Who is the SENO and what do they do?

A Special Educational Needs Organiser (SENO) is an NCSE official responsible for a geographic area, who works with parents and schools to plan, allocate and review additional supports for children with SEN. If your child has a diagnosed or suspected special educational need, you can contact your local SENO directly to discuss what supports might be available, ask about special class or special school places in your area (Dublin, Cork, Galway and Limerick all have multiple options, though demand often exceeds supply), and get guidance on the application process. You can find your local SENO's contact details on ncse.ie.

What are SNA hours and how are they allocated?

Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) provide non-teaching care support to children with significant care needs arising from a disability, medical condition or behavioural need — for example, help with mobility, personal care, or safety supervision. SNA support is not allocated based on a diagnosis alone, but on the assessed level of care need, and schools apply to the NCSE for an allocation of SNA hours based on documented evidence (usually a professional report from a psychologist, occupational therapist or relevant specialist). Since 2022, schools receive a "school-wide" SNA allocation to deploy flexibly according to need, rather than one SNA being tied to one specific child, though in practice many children with high care needs still receive substantial one-to-one or shared support.

What is an ASD unit or special class?

An ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) unit, more formally called a special class, is a small class attached to a mainstream school, typically with around six pupils, one teacher, and one or two SNAs, offering a more structured, lower-ratio environment than a typical mainstream classroom. To access a place, your child generally needs a professional assessment confirming a special educational need and a recommendation that a special class placement (rather than full mainstream inclusion or a special school) is the most appropriate setting. Places are limited and geographically uneven — some areas of Dublin and other cities have long waiting lists, so it's worth contacting your SENO and prospective schools as early as possible, ideally a year or more before you need the place.

How do you apply for special educational needs support?

The general process is:

• Get an assessment: through the HSE's Children's Disability Network Teams, a private psychologist, or your child's school (schools can request certain assessments). Waiting lists for HSE assessments can be long, so many families pursue a private assessment for a faster diagnosis where they can afford to.
• Talk to the school: your child's school (or a school you're considering) will typically apply to the NCSE for resources such as SNA support or resource teaching hours, using the professional reports you provide.
• Contact your local SENO: for guidance on the process and to discuss placement options, including special classes or special schools if mainstream inclusion isn't suitable.
• Review annually: supports are generally reviewed each year, so it's worth staying in contact with the school and SENO as your child's needs evolve.

What can you do if you disagree with a decision?

If you're unhappy with the level of support allocated, or a school refuses enrolment, you have several options. You can request a review directly from the NCSE, or make a formal complaint through the school's complaints procedure. For enrolment refusals specifically, you can appeal under Section 29 of the Education Act to the Department of Education, which can direct a school to admit your child in certain circumstances. Organisations like AsIAm, Inclusion Ireland and the Special Education Support Service can offer independent advice and advocacy if you're not sure how to proceed. It's worth keeping copies of all correspondence, reports and decisions in case an appeal becomes necessary.

Frequently Asked Questions