POBAL, the umbrella organisation for the Irish speaking community, carried out research on children in the Irish medium education sector between September 2006 and September 2008. The purpose of the study was to identify the special educational, health, linguistic and social needs of bilingual children, to identify their support needs; to raise awareness of the specific requirements of bilingual children with special education needs among professionals; to recommend the structures that need to be put in place within appropriate sectors; and, to inform future planning for the sector.