St Josephs Special School
Galway
Key facts
- Special school
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 80 smaller than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 21 girls, 59 boys
- Ethos
- Multi Denominational
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 19047H the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
About
St Joseph's Special School is a multi-denominational school in Galway City, operating under the patronage of the voluntary organisation Ability West. The school provides educational programmes for pupils aged 4 to 18 years with moderate general learning disabilities and for pupils with autism within this range. Enrolment currently supports over 80 pupils. Learning is delivered through teacher-led programmes across junior and senior cycles, supported by teachers, special needs assistants, and ancillary staff including a school nurse. The school states its mission as providing for the academic, physical, social and emotional needs of its pupils. A swimming programme is supported by volunteers, and Transition Year students from Coláiste Iognáid assist with swimming and art activities. The school expects to have 8 places available for September 2026, with applications accepted during October and November for the following school year. Respite services for enrolled pupils are provided through Ability West.
Applying to St Josephs Special 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 St Josephs Special 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 St Josephs Special School
How many pupils attend St Josephs Special School?
St Josephs Special School has 80 pupils enrolled, 21 girls and 59 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is St Josephs Special School a DEIS school?
No. St Josephs Special 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 St Josephs Special School?
St Josephs Special School has a Multi Denominational ethos. It is a mixed primary school.