Scoil Aislinn
Cork
Key facts
- Special school
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 36 smaller than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 7 girls, 29 boys
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 20331L the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
About
Scoil Aislinn is a co‑educational special school in Ballintemple, Cork, dedicated to children and young people aged 4‑18 years who have autism and complex needs. The school adopts an individualised, holistic approach that nurtures each pupil’s social, emotional, physical and intellectual development. Learning is centred on the strengths and interests of each child, with a strong emphasis on therapeutic and sensory experiences that support wellbeing and skill acquisition. The campus comprises six bright, spacious classrooms and a range of specialist facilities. A 14‑seat school bus enables regular community outings and extracurricular activities such as horse riding. The sensory garden, refurbished in 2018, offers raised beds, aromatic plants and a bucket swing for tactile exploration. A modern sensory room and a dedicated Occupational Therapy (OT) room equipped with a climbing wall, trampoline and OT swing provide therapeutic environments. Additional amenities include a well‑stocked library, a large sports hall (the Halla) for physical education and sensory circuits, and a fully equipped playground with artificial grass, swings, slides and a communication board. Scoil Aislinn’s ethos is to create a safe, caring and therapeutic setting where students, families and staff collaborate to enhance each child’s wellbeing. The school’s programmes aim to develop unique skills and talents, preparing pupils for greater independence and participation in the wider community.
History
The school began as CABAS in 1998. It moved to its present Boreenmanna Road premises, which were officially opened by the then Minister for Health and Children, Micheál Martin, on 21 March 2003. On 1 February 2011, CABAS formally transitioned to Scoil Aislinn under the patronage of the Cope Foundation.
Applying to Scoil Aislinn
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 Scoil Aislinn. 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 Scoil Aislinn
How many pupils attend Scoil Aislinn?
Scoil Aislinn has 36 pupils enrolled, 7 girls and 29 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is Scoil Aislinn a DEIS school?
No. Scoil Aislinn 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.