Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

306. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason for her Department's decision not to approve accessibility modifications, including a ramp for wheelchair access to the PE hall and a wet room/shower facility, in the recent SEN room reconfiguration project at a school (details supplied), given the importance of promoting equality of access as stated in section 6 of the Education Act 1998 (c); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46703/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am pleased to advise the Deputy that approval under the Additional School Accommodation scheme issued to the school in question for the provision of a Special Education Needs (SEN) class.

The project is being delivered under the Department’s Devolved SEN Reconfiguration and Modular Accommodation programme. The Department has a significant modular accommodation programme in place to assist schools in the provision of additional capacity, including in respect of facilitating the establishment of special classes. This 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.

Kerrigan Sheanan Newman Construction Consultants (KSN) has been appointed, from the Department’s Framework, to design and tender the project. This consultant is leading the project through the various stages of planning process and construction.

My Department is fully aware of the urgency in respect of this project and will continue working closely with the school authority and its project manager in order to ensure this project is completed as soon as possible. Upon review with the Design Team, in relation to accessibility modifications including ramp access/wet room I have to advise that such works do not form part of the Modular project brief. However, it is open to the school authority to apply to the Emergency Works Section within my Department for funding for such works. The Emergency Works Scheme ensures the availability of funding for urgent works to schools that need resources as a result of an emergency situation, or to cater for special needs pupils who have enrolled.

The School Authority has devolved responsibility for delivery of the existing project.