Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 2 July 2025
91. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the circumstances in which a school (details supplied) is disposing of its premises for a reported €5 million and is to be accommodated in a publicly owned education building at another location; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36312/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraInformation available to my Department confirms that the school authority to which the Deputy refers is not the owner of the property referenced. This is consistent with the decision of the owner of the property to terminate the written lease arrangements in place with the school. This decision required an urgent accommodation solution for the pupils enrolled in the school which was met by my Department's use of a recently vacated building.
I can assure the Deputy that it is an absolute priority that every child in the State as well as children with special educational needs has access to a school place each September including the children attending the school referred to. As part of this decision, the school authority are opening two new special education classes which will provide valuable capacity for local parents seeking such school places. Maximising existing school accommodation capacity is an important element of my department's approach to meeting school place needs and the accommodation solution for the school in question is consistent with this approach.
