Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 January 2025
570. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Education when a school (details supplied) was first notified formally or informally of proposals to move to a premises off Thomas Omer Way; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1039/25]
View answerMy Department and the NCSE work closely in relation to advance planning for new special school requirements. This work was primarily done in the latter half of 2024 in respect of the 5 new special schools that are due to be established for the 2025/26 school year. Updates in relation to this work are set out in press releases that were published by my Department in October and December 2024. As part of these works there is preparatory work done on identifying opportunities for repurposing existing accommodation which in the Department’s experience is the most efficient method for facilitating the opening of new special schools. In the case of the new special school being established in the Lucan area, this work also involved an assessment of the wider demographic requirements at primary level.
The decision to repurpose the Lucan East ETNS school to facilitate the establishment of the new special school to provide much needed special school provision in the Lucan area was confirmed by the Minister in the press release issued on 10th December and this position was notified to the patron and school at that time.
Lucan East ETNS will move from their current location to the new school building that is nearing completion in Kishogue over Easter 2025, with students returning to the new school following the Easter midterm break.
The new school for Lucan East ETNS is well located to continue to serve its existing catchment area, which has a reducing demand over the medium term, while also starting to meet the increasing demand from the new residential area in Clonburris. The relocation of Lucan East ETNS does not affect the Department's plans for further school development in the Clonburris area and the Department will continue to monitor demand brought about by demographic need when addressing school capacity.
The school in Kishogue is a new state of the art 16 classroom primary school with 2 Special Education Needs (SEN) classrooms, external hard and soft play areas, new SEN soft play equipment, a secure junior play area, two ballcourts, and 118 bicycle rack units that meets all the Department’s modern technical guidance documents and decarbonisation requirements.
My Department will be working closely with the patron and school authority on the practical arrangements for the relocation.
