Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 January 2025
519. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Education to clarify details of the new special school to be located in Lucan (details supplied); the site that will be considered for this school; the expected cost of the refurbishment; when works will commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46541/24]
View answer523. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Education the plan for the site of a school (details supplied); if this will be the new site for the proposed special school; what refurbishment works will be required; when works will take place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46545/24]
View answerIn the 18th October last, the Department announced plans to establish five new special schools for the 2025/26 school year to cater for the increasing number of students with special educational needs. The five new special schools will be established in counties Cork, Dublin (2), Monaghan and Tipperary. This followed analysis by the National Council for Special Education and the Department of Education which identified that the level of need in these particular areas could not be catered for by expanding places in existing special schools. It is envisaged that existing buildings will be repurposed to facilitate the opening of these new special schools.
One of the new special schools will be established in Lucan and will be located in the building currently occupied by the school referred to by the Deputy. This school will relocate to a new school building currently under construction. The vacated building will be repurposed for the new special school. The nature of the works to be undertaken to the building to cater for the new special school will be determined in due course and the Department will continue to work closely with the relevant stakeholders during this process.
