Special Class Provision in Ireland: Where We Have Come from and Where We Might Go

Abstract

Ireland’s ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) raises questions about the future role of special schools and classes in the country. Internationally, Ireland has had a relatively low number of students in separate educational provision at just over 2% of the student population. However, there has been a large increase in special class provision in mainstream schools that warrants critique. This paper analyses the history of special class provision in Ireland to suggest a possible developmental role for such classes in moving towards a greater whole school inclusion.