Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 November 2025
770. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on an SEN repurposing project for a school (details supplied) being delivered under the School Capital Programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58757/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school to which the Deputy refers was approved by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) to open a special class for the 2025/2026 school year. A Start-Up grant payment of €30,000 was issued to the school by the Department upon notification from NCSE that the classroom had been sanctioned.
Under the Start-Up Grant, schools have flexibility as to how they deploy the funding subject to the understanding and acceptance that this would be the full and final capital grant covering core requirements in the areas of furniture and equipment, classroom ICT, quiet space, and room decoration.
Additional funding is also available under the SEN Repurposing Small Scale Works Scheme which provides further funding of up to a maximum of €70,000 per classroom to assist in the opening of the SEN classroom. The school has not submitted an application for this scheme to date.
