Special Education Growth in Irish Schools

The growth of special classes in Irish schools provides a critical context for understanding the urgency of UDL implementation. The number of special classes in primary schools grew from 489 in 2010 to 1,804 in October 2022 (a 268% increase), driven overwhelmingly by autism classes which grew from 214 to 1,463 (a 584% increase). At post-primary level, the overall number of special classes grew by 714% between 2010 and 2022. These trends raise fundamental questions about whether the Irish education system is moving toward or away from the inclusive ideal enshrined in the UNCRPD.