For 139 primary schools across Cork, the start of the 2026-2027 academic year will bring a significant change to the classroom. New data from the Department of Education reveals that these schools—representing more than 41% of all mainstream primary institutions in the county—will see a reduction in their Special Education Teaching (SET) hours.

These allocations are the primary mechanism for providing students in mainstream classes with the extra support they need to keep pace with their peers. While the Department frames the shift as a necessary recalibration based on shifting demographics, the scale of the reduction has raised immediate concerns about how schools will manage the needs of their most vulnerable students.

The Logic of Reallocation

Education Minister Hildegarde Naughton has defended the move, citing a decline in enrolments across the county. According to the Department, 231 schools in Cork have seen a combined drop of over 2,200 students. In 139 of those cases, the change in the school’s profile was deemed significant enough to trigger a reduction in SET resources.

"The allocation of SET resources to schools will see some schools gaining hours, while others will see a reduction in hours where there is change in the enrolment number and local demographics," Naughton said in a statement. The Department maintains that these hours are not disappearing from the system entirely; instead, they are being "reallocated" to nearly 100 other schools in Cork that have reported an increased "profile of need," alongside the creation of 15 new SET teaching posts.

A System Under Pressure

For many educators and parents, the math of reallocation does little to ease the anxiety of the upcoming term. Sinn Féin TD Thomas Gould, who requested the data, has been a vocal critic of the current allocation model. He argues that relying on existing diagnoses to distribute resources is inherently flawed, as many children remain undiagnosed for years after they begin primary school.

Despite the cuts, the Department points to broader growth in the sector over the last five years. Statistics provided by the Ministry show that the number of special classes in Cork has increased by 73%, while the number of Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) has risen by 32%. The total number of special education teachers has also grown by 18% in the same period.

The Review Process

For the schools facing the sharpest reductions, the path forward remains uncertain. A total of 23 Cork schools have already submitted formal requests for an SET review to the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).

These reviews are currently being processed, with the Department promising that schools will be notified of the outcomes before the current school year concludes. Whether these reviews will result in the restoration of hours or simply confirm the initial assessment remains to be seen.

Key Takeaways

  • Widespread Impact: 139 out of 335 mainstream primary schools in Cork will see a reduction in SET hours for the 2026-2027 school year.
  • Demographic Shifts: The Department of Education attributes the cuts to a decline in enrolments across 231 schools, with hours being moved to schools with higher identified needs.
  • Ongoing Appeals: 23 schools have formally challenged their new allocations, with the NCSE expected to deliver final decisions before the summer break.

As the academic year draws to a close, the focus for these 139 schools will shift to the NCSE review process. For parents and teachers, the coming weeks will determine whether the new allocations are a sustainable way to manage resources or if the reduction will leave a gap in support that cannot be filled by reallocation alone.