Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

I am grateful for the opportunity of raising the important matter of a new school at the School of the Holy Spirit, Gaol Road, Kilkenny. The Department of Education and Science designated the School of the Holy Spirit for pupils with emotional disturbance or those pupils who present with autistic spectrum disorders or ASD. Until recently the school catered for pupils in the primary-school age group but as the school is to expand, providing second level education for pupils with ASD, the pupils reaching post-primary age will in future be retained within the school.

The school has six classes, operating a six to one pupil-teacher ratio. There are 32 pupils aged between five and 13 years enrolled and 24 of these pupils have a diagnosis of ASD. It has come to the notice of public representatives and the school authorities that there is insufficient accommodation at the present site to facilitate six pupils in the School of the Holy Spirit, Gaol Road, Kilkenny. This has developed into a more serious matter given that there is insufficient school accommodation to cater for the needs of the people of Kilkenny city.

The development of the existing site at Holy Spirit special school, Gaol Road, was strongly supported by the Bishop of Ossory, Dr. Forristal, and the diocese. With the help of teachers, special school assistants and parents, it has developed an enormous reputation as a valued education resource for those children with disabilities.

The main school building comprises four classrooms, a staff room, a dining room with a serving area and a small assembly-PE hall with some office space off it for the multidisciplinary team, a small office used as a library and the principal's office. The fifth classroom within this building is located in a small office space and currently accommodates two pupils. There are two prefabricated buildings in the school yard, one of which accommodates a class of pupils while the other is used for central processing work. The toilets are centrally located within the main school building and pupils require supervision when leaving the classrooms to use them.

There have been recent difficulties regarding windows falling out of the building and repairs are proving difficult due to the presence of asbestos in the structure. However, the school building and the board of management do everything possible to ensure repairs and routine maintenance are carried out to a high standard and that the best possible facility is available to the children, notwithstanding its deterioration and location.

I ask the Minister for Education and Science to ensure the great work being done by parents, teachers and special needs assistants, for the benefit of these children, is recognised in terms by sanctioning the project that has been promised by various people, though not by me, since 2000. Insufficient progress has been made to date to bring the project to construction on a new site that is now available at Callan Road, Kilkenny. I ask the Minister to ensure this project is included in the 2005 Estimates.

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