Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)

I thank the Deputy for giving me the opportunity to outline the Department of Education and Science proposals to the House regarding the provision of new accommodation for the Holy Spirit special school in Kilkenny. The school caters for pupils with special educational needs. It has an enrolment of 37 pupils and a staff of seven class teachers and 13 classroom assistants.

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that a site at Seville Lodge has been purchased for the proposed building project at the Holy Spirit special school, Kilkenny. This project is at the early stages of the architectural planning process, has been assigned a band one rating by the Department and is listed in section 8 of the 2004 schools building programme.

Officials in the Department are examining the current and future enrolment levels for the school in consultation with the Department's inspectorate. In this regard, the Department officials have arranged a meeting between the relevant Department personnel with a view to finalising deliberations on the matter. Further contact will be made with the school authorities when this process is complete.

The Department is aware of the invaluable service provided by Holy Spirit special school, Kilkenny, in catering for the needs of pupils with special needs in the area. Every effort will be made to conclude the deliberations as soon as possible with a view to progressing this project.

In regard to projects that were not authorised to proceed to construction as part of the 2004 schools building programme, including the Holy Spirit special school, Kilkenny, the Department's officials are reviewing all such projects with a view to including them as part of a multi-annual schools building programme from 2005. The Minister expects to make further announcements in this regard before the end of the year.

See this speech in context