John Clendennen
Question:317. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update further to correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31696/26]
View answerThursday, 30 April 2026
Questions (317)
Written answers
The school referred to by the Deputy was approved to enter the Department’s school building programme under the Additional School Accommodation Scheme for a project to provide one special educational need (SEN) classroom. Approval to planning for this project was granted in March 2021. Subsequently, the school requested that a central activity space be included within the project brief, and this was agreed with the Department. Delivery of the project has been devolved to the school authority.
Since that time, there has also been ongoing engagement and correspondence between the Department, the design team, and the school regarding the expansion of the scope of the project to include a second SEN classroom. However, such additional accommodation has not been approved, and the approved brief remains the provision of one SEN classroom with a central activity space.
In 2024, the Department advised that a revised Stage 2a (Developed Design) report was required to reflect the amended scope of the approved project. This report has not yet been received. Once submitted, it will be assessed from both a technical and cost perspective, in accordance with the requirements of the Infrastructure Guidelines.
Any revised Stage 2a submission must adhere strictly to the approved brief, as the Department has not approved the provision of two SEN classrooms as part of this project.
The accommodation needs of this school will also be considered as part of the Department’s ongoing National Development Plan (NDP) prioritisation process. Progression of this project will form part of the Department’s broader work under the NDP Implementation Plan.
At this time, it is not possible to provide indicative timelines for advancement to subsequent stages, as progress is dependent on a range of contingent factors, including receipt and satisfactory assessment of the revised Stage 2a report.