Disappointment as appeal for second autism class at County Roscommon school is turned down 

Appeals for an additional autism class at Ballyforan National School have been turned down, prompting frustration and disappointment among parents, teachers, and public representatives who say vulnerable children are being failed by the current system.

The issue was raised publicly by local councillor Emer Kelly at a meeting of the Athlone Municipal District where she highlighted the decision not to sanction a second special education classroom despite growing demand across Roscommon and neighbouring Galway.

Ballyforan NS opened its first autism-specific class — known as the ACORN classroom — in September 2024 following extensive preparation and consultation with a Special Educational Needs Organiser (SENO) assigned by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE). The class has since received an overwhelmingly positive response from staff, pupils, parents and the wider community.

However, despite this success and a clear increase in demand for places, the NCSE has decided not to provide approval for a second class at the rural South Roscommon school.

Principal Tom Murray confirmed that the school was notified of the decision in March, describing it as deeply disappointing.

“We would welcome an additional classroom with open arms,” Mr Murray said. “We know we are able and we have staff who are qualified for it.” 

Ballyforan NS currently has one autism class, which operates out of Ballyforan Community Hall. The school submitted a formal expression of interest to the Department of Education to add a second class and had originally hoped to build capacity year-on-year. Two members of staff at the school hold Postgraduate Diplomas in Special Education, and the physical infrastructure and community support are already in place.

According to Mr Murray, the reasoning behind the decision appears to be linked to departmental policy around small schools. “They seem to feel that small schools should only be allocated one classroom. They’re trying to spread resources out,” he said. “But I am getting calls from parents asking me to take their child in. Obviously, there is a need.” 

Elaine Mulryan’s daughter is currently enrolled in the existing ACORN class. Ms Mulryan spoke about the impact the class has had on her child’s life.

Her daughter initially entered Junior Infants as a mainstream pupil but struggled significantly. “She had no understanding of the routine. She wasn’t communicating,” Ms Mulryan recalled.

Following a formal diagnosis, her daughter transferred to the autism class, where her progress has been remarkable. “We can have a conversation with her now,” she said. “We’ve learned so much about how she learns — it’s all visual. They’ve worked on everything, not just education but social skills and life skills.” 

Before joining the ACORN class, her daughter had only a handful of words. “She is a completely different child now,” Ms Mulryan said. “Give a child the right environment and they’ll grow and they’ll thrive.” 

Without the class in Ballyforan, Ms Mulryan said she would have been forced to send her daughter by bus to Roscommon Town, adding stress and long travel days for a young child. Now, other families are facing that same prospect.

“It’s very hard to understand,” she said. “We are so driven for this. I think it’s madness that they’re not giving it to the school.” The consequences of the decision are already being felt. 

Mr Murray said he has turned away families seeking places for children with additional needs — something he finds deeply troubling. “We want children to be able to go to school in their local area. It’s not good for anyone to have children being taxied to the other side of the county for education.” 

He added: “I can almost guarantee that if we opened another classroom, it would fill, and we would need another one again.” 

In a statement, a Department of Education and Youth spokesperson confirmed that eight new special classes are being added across County Roscommon this year, bringing the total number of special classes in mainstream schools to 56. The spokesperson said decisions are based on local need and existing capacity.

“The NCSE actively encourages expressions of interest from schools to open special classes,” the statement said. “However, it is not always possible to open additional special classes in every school that expresses an interest.” 

For the Ballyforan community, those words offer little comfort. As one local observer put it, the soil is ready and the acorns are planted — but without support, fewer mighty oaks will be allowed to grow.