Carmona Special National School
Dun Laoghaire, Dublin
Key facts
- Special school
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 37 smaller than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 13 girls, 24 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 20121A the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
Location
About
Carmona Special National School provides a dedicated educational setting for children and young people aged four to eighteen who have severe to profound learning disabilities. Situated within the tranquil grounds of St John of God Carmona Services in Glenageary, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin, the school benefits from a peaceful environment that supports both learning and personal development. Since its opening in April 2002, the school has been funded and managed in line with the Department of Education and Skills regulations for primary schools, ensuring a robust framework for quality provision. The school adopts a person‑centred approach, tailoring curricula and therapeutic interventions to each pupil’s individual needs. A range of specialist resources, including sensory rooms, adaptive equipment and assistive communication technologies, are integrated into daily routines to promote engagement, independence and social interaction. Collaborative links with the wider Carmona Services enable access to multidisciplinary support such as speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and health care. Community involvement is encouraged through events like the Carmona AAC Awareness Day, fostering awareness and inclusion beyond the school grounds.
History
Carmona Special National School opened in April 2002, establishing a specialised provision for learners with severe to profound disabilities within the St John of God Carmona Services campus.
Applying to Carmona Special National School
For a September 2027 place, a school's formal admissions process cannot begin before 1 October 2026. The school sets its own opening and closing dates in its annual admission notice.
National term dates 2026/27
Irish schools follow a standardised school year, so these nationwide primary school dates apply broadly to Carmona Special National School. Individual schools set their own discretionary closure days, confirm exact dates with the school.
- October Mid-Term Break: Mon 26 Oct – Fri 30 Oct 2026
- Christmas Holidays: Wed 23 Dec 2026 – Tue 5 Jan 2027
- February Mid-Term Break: Thu 18 Feb – Fri 19 Feb 2027 (post-primary schools: Mon 15 Feb – Fri 19 Feb 2027)
- Easter Holidays: Mon 22 Mar – Sun 4 Apr 2027
Primary schools close for the last two days of the February mid-term week and may use discretionary days to take the full week, so their break can be shorter than post-primary schools'.
Frequently asked questions about Carmona Special National School
How many pupils attend Carmona Special National School?
Carmona Special National School has 37 pupils enrolled, 13 girls and 24 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Carmona Special National School a DEIS school?
No. Carmona Special National School is not part of DEIS, the Department of Education programme of additional supports for schools serving communities at risk of educational disadvantage. Not holding DEIS status says nothing about how good a school is, only about the profile of the community it serves.
What is the ethos of Carmona Special National School?
Carmona Special National School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.