Analysis: 1 in 3 school-aged children in Ireland experience difficulties due to a long-term health condition, impacting attendance, engagement and mental health
Around one in three school-aged children in Ireland experience difficulties due to a long-term health condition. This figure comes from the Growing Up in Ireland study, a national research programme that has tracked Irish children's development and wellbeing for over a decade.
From asthma, congenital heart disease and epilepsy to type 1 diabetes and childhood arthritis, these conditions affect energy levels, concentration, and participation in school life. While each diagnosis is unique, many of the challenges facing students with chronic health conditions are similar. These include difficulty keeping up in class, missing out on PE, and navigating the emotional toll of being "different."
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is a chronic inflammatory joint condition lasting more than 6 weeks with onset under the age of 16 years. While JIA is the most common cause of arthritis in children, it does not only affect joints. It can cause visual impairment, fatigue, rashes and sleep disturbance—symptoms that further impact focus, stamina and emotional wellbeing. Several studies have reported higher levels of absenteeism in children with JIA. One study found that those with JIA missed an average of 2.7 days over a two month period. This was 35% than the general school population.
We need your consent to load this rte-player contentWe use rte-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
From RTÉ Radio 1's Today with Claire Byrne, GP Dr Harry Barry and UL's Dr Ann-Marie Creaven on being a parent to a child with a serious or chronic illness
In a recent research paper, my colleague Tom Spillane and I analysed twelve international studies to understand how JIA affects school participation. The findings are highly relevant across the spectrum of chronic childhood illness. We identified six key barriers to full school participation:
1. Physical symptoms like pain or fatigue
2. Disability or reduced mobility
3. Psychological symptoms including anxiety and isolation
4. Severe active disease
5. Poor communication between schools and families
6. Absence of inclusive supports and strategies
Just as importantly, we found that low-cost, thoughtful interventions made a clear difference. These included allowing children to take breaks, use assistive tools like ergonomic pens or walking aids, adapt PE activities, or simply be understood and listened to by school staff. None of these changes require huge investment, but they do require awareness and compassion.
Despite this, many children with chronic conditions continue to struggle silently. Some hesitate to disclose their illness, fearing stigma or disbelief. Others report teachers who are unsure how to respond or systems that don’t accommodate flexibility.
Every child deserves to feel seen, valued, and included. For children with chronic illnesses, small accommodations can mean the difference between falling behind and flourishing. Schools must be places where health challenges are met not with pity, but with practical support and genuine care. We need to move beyond viewing illness as a barrier and ensure school systems that adapt to a child’s needs. Just as ramps and accessible toilets became a norm for physical disabilities, we need inclusive learning environments that adapt to fatigue, pain, medication schedules, and fluctuating health.
The cost of inaction is high: reduced school attendance, lower academic engagement, and poor long-term mental health. A classroom that doesn’t fit a child’s medical reality can erode their sense of belonging.
The message is simple: inclusion for children with chronic conditions is not solely a medical issue—it’s an educational and societal one. Schools can be powerful levellers. But only if they are designed to support difference, not penalise it.
From Arthritis Ireland, rugby player James Lowe and schoolboy Adam McCarthy discuss how they have both tackled their arthritis diagnosis head on
Ireland rugby international and soon to be Lions player, James Lowe lives with JIA. His story is a powerful example of adaptation and achievement. You can watch him share his experience on the Arthritis Ireland website.
These are children with ambition, humour, ability—and health challenges that can be managed. The six themes from our study are not only relevant for arthritis—they can be extended to many long-term conditions. If one in three children in Irish classrooms faces a chronic health condition, this isn’t a niche issue. It’s an urgent call to action for educators, policymakers and health professionals. We need training, policies, and a culture that places inclusion at the centre of school life.
Improving the school experience for children with chronic illnesses is one of the clearest, most measurable ways to make a lasting impact on a young person’s life. It means equipping teachers with the knowledge they need, encouraging openness among students and fostering a school culture that values difference as a source of strength. It means investing not only in infrastructure but in empathy. Every child’s right to learn includes the right to be accommodated and understood.
Follow RTÉ Brainstorm on WhatsApp and Instagram for more stories and updates
The views expressed here are those of the author and do not represent or reflect the views of RTÉ
