Nenagh CBS Primary School loses a special class

CBS Primary School Nenagh has lost its Mild General Learning Disability (MGLD) class - a move that needs to be reversed, Labour Party TD Alan Kelly has said.

This class, which caters for children who have mild learning disabilities such as Down Syndrome and other learning disabilities, has been a central part of the school since the 1970s and has helped many students to progress over the last 50 years.

“These children are in a unique category in terms of their specific cognitive, sensory, medical, and developmental profile, which impacts on their learning needs as they progress through the education system at all levels,” said Deputy Kelly.

“Children who have additional support needs arising from one or more complex factors or multiple factors are deemed to have complex needs. They deserve to have the same educational opportunities as all other children.”

Deputy Kelly added: “For the academic year 2025/6 CBS Primary School Nenagh has been allocated an extra Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) class, which is very welcome, and the school must be congratulated for facilitating this. “I have been fighting for many years for more special classes in the town and we are now in a much better place.”

‘EXTREMELY NEGATIVE’ move

“We as a town are working really hard to progress the needs of children and people with autism and the work of the A Team is in particular to be commended.

“However, in an extremely negative development it has been confirmed to me that CBS Primary Nenagh will now lose its Mild General Learning Disability (MGLD) class. This is something the school wants to keep, but they are being left in an impossible situation by the NCSE and Department of Education.

“I’ve spoken with the school and met with families that have been affected by this decision and were planning on putting their children in there for the coming academic year.

“But now they are faced with looking for a place for their children in special schools or classes in Cashel or Limerick, or possibly Birr if they can get one.

“However, that means the student will have to be transported back and forth for nearly 45 minutes every day which results in over 400kms of travel every week. “CBS Primary School Nenagh is also now co-educational so this now means that these students miss out on attending a local school with all their siblings and neighbours.

“These children do not have a diagnosis of autism, so autism classes are not the appropriate educational setting for them.

“I have throughout my career been the biggest supporter of autism services in the community, health and educational settings.

“This isn’t a competition between autism and mild general learning disabilities. However, there is a marked imbalance in the numbers of, for example, autism/ASD classes nationally, against the numbers of appropriate class settings for children with Down Syndrome and other MGLD children requiring a special class setting. This brings into clear focus the issues these families face as they struggle to secure appropriate educational services for their children.

“This is not acceptable. This Government, the Fine Gael Minister for Education and Fianna Fáil Minister for Special Education, who has visited the school and is someone who listens, need to intervene, and ensure this Mild General Learning Disabilities class, which has served the people of Nenagh and surrounds for over 50 years, is kept for the coming school year and the school is supported in doing this and expanding it into the future,” concluded Deputy Kelly.

CBS Primary School Principal, William Greene, said the Board of Management had fought for many years to keep the class open. “This class has been a terrific benefit to the local community and we are very disappointed to hear of it's closing,” Mr Greene told The Guardian.

He said the school needed nine students with a mild general diagnosis to retain the class, but with the majority of primary school aged children with an MGLD diagnosis now being catered for by Special Education teachers within local schools, it has become increasingly difficult to reach this number.