In February 2004 St. Catherine's Special School for students with Autism was set up at Barnacoyle, Co Wicklow, to facilitate education for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or suspected Autism Spectrum Disorder. It is designed to be a centre of excellence, that implements quality behaviour analytic instruction (ABA) in keeping with proven best practice methodologies. The method of education being used at Barnacoyle has been scientifically proven to be the most effective method when educating children with ASD and there is no other facility offering this service in Co Wicklow.

Barnacoyle is one of the centers used by St Catherine's Special National School which is located in three centres. St Catherines provides primary and post-primary education for pupils who have a moderate, severe or profound learning disability. The school is part funded at present by the state and the difference is made up by St Catherine's. The Department of Education and Science is refusing to fund the the ABA element of the teaching program despite St Catherines having submitted two applications for this funding. All parents (parents of children currently attending who the state part fund, children currently attending who the state have not recognized to date, children on the waiting list) were notified by the school on the 8th February last that the school would have no alternative but to close from the 31st March 2006 for all the children attending currently who are not in receipt of funding. All the other children who are attending the school have to be reviewed as St Catherine's explained that it could no longer foot the bill without the state's full support as St Catherine's is currently financially stretched to its limit.

Harry Cullen is the acting CEO and Teresa Smith is the Principal of St Catherine's.

Related Links
http://www.stcatherines.ie/specialschool.htm