St Oliver Plunkett Special School
CARRIGBREANNAN, Dublin
Key facts
- Special school
- Mixed
- Pupils enrolled
- 63 smaller than the median Irish primary school (123 pupils)
- Girls and boys
- 25 girls, 38 boys
- Ethos
- Catholic
- Teaching through Irish
- No subjects through Irish
- Roll number
- 19499T the Department of Education reference for this school
School details
About
St. Oliver Plunkett National School is a specialist primary school in Monkstown, County Dublin, dedicated to supporting children with reading difficulties, particularly dyslexia. Established in 1975, it is one of only four special reading schools in the Republic of Ireland and operates under the Catholic patronage of the Archbishop of Dublin while welcoming pupils of all faiths and none. The school provides a warm, caring and highly structured environment where each child is treated as a unique individual, with personalised learning plans that address both academic and emotional needs. The teaching approach is multi‑sensory and technology‑enhanced, employing visual aids, auditory cues and hands‑on activities alongside assistive software to reinforce reading accuracy, comprehension, spelling and writing. Classrooms are designed to be inclusive and supportive, with a low pupil‑to‑teacher ratio (63 pupils, 7 teachers and 5 special‑needs assistants) and high‑speed broadband connectivity supplied through the Department of Education’s School Broadband Programme. Beyond literacy, the school places equal emphasis on social skills, self‑confidence and spiritual development, fostering a strong sense of community and encouraging active parental involvement.
History
St Oliver Plunkett National School was founded in 1975 as a Catholic‑patroned specialist reading school. It is one of four such schools in the Irish Republic, created to provide dedicated support for children with dyslexia and other reading difficulties.
Applying to St Oliver Plunkett 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
View St Oliver Plunkett Special School's own calendar (2026/2027 school year)
Irish schools follow a standardised school year, so these nationwide primary school dates apply broadly to St Oliver Plunkett Special School. The school publishes its own calendar, linked above, and that is the authoritative source for its reopening date and discretionary closure days.
- 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 Oliver Plunkett Special School
How many pupils attend St Oliver Plunkett Special School?
St Oliver Plunkett Special School has 63 pupils enrolled, 25 girls and 38 boys. That makes it smaller than the median Irish primary school, which has 123 pupils.
Is St Oliver Plunkett Special School a DEIS school?
No. St Oliver Plunkett 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 Oliver Plunkett Special School?
St Oliver Plunkett Special School has a Catholic ethos. It is a mixed primary school.