Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 January 2026
507. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Youth the total expenditure by the Government in getting a project ready and refurbished for opening in 2025 (details supplied); the total expenditure to date including recently announced investment extension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5931/26]
View answerThe National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is the statutory body responsible for the provision of special education and allocating supports for children with special educational needs.
The State owned property in Castleblaney has been repurposed to a high standard and this has facilitated the opening of Monaghan Community Special School for the 2025/26 school year.
The project is being delivered under the Department’s SEN Reconfiguration and Modular Accommodation programme. The programme involves the use of Project Management supports which is designed to enable the accommodation to be provided as quickly as possible and help ease the administrative workload for school authorities in relation to the management and delivery of projects. This is a collaborative process between the Project Manager, School Authority and the Department. The Project Manager is currently overseeing delivery of the residual elements to ensure the successful completion of the project. The cost of the project will be known when the project is fully completed and the final account has been furnished to the Department.
The school is now at capacity and additional accommodation is required to facilitate further enrolments. The property at Castleblaney provides a good location for expanding capacity with a permanent modular extension at the school and the Department is engaging with the patron, Cavan and Monaghan ETB in this regard.
My Department and the NCSE are committed to ensuring that sufficient special education placements remain available for children with special educational needs.
