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. 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 examination. This DCU research project analyses the history of special class provision in Ireland to suggest a possible developmental role for such classes. Could they move schools towards greater levels of inclusion?

This paper analyses the history of special class education in Ireland with a view to better understand our current context and how policy might develop. It draws on statistical data on special class provision from the Department of Education, the Central Statistics Office, and the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), Irish policy documents, and reports and legislation that reference special classes. The analysis offers insights that might support a better understanding of our current context and how policy might develop.