UPDATED: Families in this Kildare town have been left without a new special class

Families in one County Kildare have been left without a single new special class for the 2026 to 2027 school year.

That's according to Social Democrats councillor Chris Pender, who today (January 15) highlighted the lack of a new classroom for Newbridge.

Specifically, Cllr Pender pointed out that the full list of newly sanctioned special classes for Kildare has now been published.

It confirmed that six new primary special classes across the county. However, none are located in Newbridge.

According to Cllr Pender, the absence "confirms what families in Newbridge feared all along".

He added: "Not one new special class has been approved for the town.

Cllr Pender also claimed: "For weeks, announcements were drip-fed in small batches, and during that time, government representatives for Newbridge stayed silent.

"Now we can see why; when the full picture emerged, Newbridge had been left out entirely."

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He continued: "This is not a small oversight; Newbridge is one of the largest and fastest growing towns in Kildare.

"Demand for special classes here is well known and well documented. The Department [of Education and Youth] has the data; this did not come as a surprise.

Cllr Pender further said: "Parents still do not know where their child will attend school in September.

"Schools cannot plan staff, space, or supports, and children are facing uncertainty that should never exist in a system that claims to put their needs first."

FAMILIES ENGAGED 'IN GOOD FAITH'

"Families engaged with the process in good faith... they waited, they followed procedures, and they were told to be patient.

"Meanwhile, decisions were made elsewhere and announced bit by bit, masking the reality on the ground."

He also asserted: "Special education cannot be treated as an afterthought; it requires early planning, transparency, and political leadership.

"Silence from government representatives does nothing for families who are crying out for certainty."

Cllr Pender concluded by saying that Newbridge families deserve "clear answers" and "immediate action".

"I will continue to raise this issue until Newbridge gets the special class provision it clearly needs," Cllr Pender concluded.

The Department of Education and Youth has been asked for comment in relation to Cllr Pender's views.

Cllr Chris Pender made headlines last week when he voiced his disapproval over drink-driving comments that were made by the leader of Independent Ireland, Michael Collins TD.

Social Democrats Cllr Chris Pender. File photograph

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UPDATE: Friday, January 16, 2026 — 2.14pm approx — A spokesperson for the Department of Education and Youth provided the below statement to the Leader:

"The NCSE recently sanctioning [sic] 168 new special classes in 159 schools across the country for the next school year 2026/2027.

"This is the first tranche of new special classes being sanctioned for the coming school year and is a number of months ahead of last year.

"The NCSE expect to continue to sanction further new special classes over the coming weeks, including in Co Kildare. The earlier sanctioning of these classes will provide clarity for parents and allow schools more time for the planning and establishment of new special classes.

They added: "Details of the new special classes are available on the NCSE website."

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The spokesperson further said: "Budget 2026 recently provided funding for a further 3,000 special class and special school places to be provided for the 2026 / 2027 school year.

"To improve future planning for the next school year 2026 / 2027, families were encouraged to engage with the NCSE by October 1, 2025 for the 2026 / 27 school year – four months earlier than in previous years.

"The NCSE is reviewing and collating all of the data and information received by it in terms of the level of need for new special class and special school places.

"The earlier timeline will assist the NCSE in relation to approaching local schools to open new special classes earlier. The earlier timeline is also being introduced to provide more time for the establishment of new special classes and additional special school capacity."

They continued: "The establishment of additional special education places involves a significant level of work in terms of reconfiguring existing classrooms, recruiting teachers and SNAs, running admission processes, accessing training and support and organising school transport.

"This new timeline was introduced after engagement with all of the key education stakeholders including bodies representing parents and special education advocacy groups.

"The NCSE formally sanctioning 168 new special classes in 159 schools across the country for the next school year 2026 / 2027. This is the first tranche of new special classes being sanctioned for the coming school year and is a number of months ahead of last year.

"The NCSE expect to continue to sanction further new special classes over the coming weeks, including in County Kildare.

"The earlier sanctioning of these classes will provide clarity for parents and allow schools more time for the planning and establishment of new special classes.

"Details of the new special classes are available on the NCSE website."

The spokesperson concluded: "At, present, there are two special schools, 14 primary special classes and two post-primary special classes in the immediate Newbridge school planning area."

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.