Ms ?ine Cusack:

I will not claim to have expertise. The Irish medium policy goes beyond the planning and building unit, but obviously we are part of the conversation and engagement. There is a commitment to double the number of students receiving their education through the medium of Irish. As I referenced earlier, a consultation has been running in recent months with a view to getting stakeholder engagement to inform and develop that policy in order to achieve that objective. The planning and building and unit has a role in that context as well. One action on the establishment of new schools that we have implemented since 2018 is that where we are establishing more than one primary school in the school planning area, one of those new schools is established as a Gaelscoil. That is one action that the planning and building unit has been involved in in terms of increasing the Irish medium provision. We continue to work closely with colleagues. As referenced earlier, there are some Gaelscoileanna that are oversubscribed. In other areas, where demographics are different, there is less demand for Gaelscoileanna. It is about balancing that and looking at all the options for ensuring that there are solutions available for children who want education through the medium of Irish.

On the issue of St. Killian's Special School, I know good progress has been made in the refurbishment works there. I will have to confirm the specifics, but I know that at least part of the work is complete and children are in the school. Arrangements are in place to facilitate all of the classes pending the full completion of the works, but huge progress has been made in recent weeks.