The news arm of RTÉ (Raidió Teilifís Éireann), an Irish public media source, published a report 9 September 2026 that featured parents expressing dissatisfaction with the schooling that their children with disabilities were receiving in special schools in the Cork region. In a segment entitled “Parents felt ‘abandoned’ over lack of special school supports,” parents spoke of concerns about inadequate services as well as suspensions, shortened school days, and even school closures. Educators—including Michael Moynihan, Minister of State at the Department of Education and Youth for the Cork region—explained their views of the situation, as well.
The original ~20-min segment is available on the RTE site, and it is also available via YouTube:
Speakers refer to concerns about schooling in the Cork region, which is in the far south of Ireland, but Dear Readers of Special Education Today from many regions other than Cork will hear familiar themes in this report. The speakers often focus on children with intellectual disabilities and autism, but those who look beyond the labels will hear concerns about staffing, professional development, educational policy, and much more.