'Our kids are suffering': Some parents 'devastated' over failure to re-open special education as planned Schools for children with special educational needs were due to re-open today. By Orla Dwyer Thursday 21 Jan 2021, 6:30 AM Jan 21st 2021, 6:30 AM 15,017 Views 94 Comments Image: Shutterstock/BlurryMe Image: Shutterstock/BlurryMe PARENTS HAVE SAID they are disappointed and frustrated with the government’s handling of re-opening special education amid the third wave of Covid-19. Schools for children with additional educational needs were initially due to re-open today until the government abandoned its plan after unions said they opposed the move. At around 10pm on Tuesday night, the Education Minister Norma Foley and Junior Minister Josepha Madigan said that partially re-opening schools would “regrettably not be possible”.