Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

The Department of Education and Science became aware of the proposed closure of this class on 4 March 2005 in a telephone call from the chairperson of the board of management of the school. The chairperson indicated that the class would be closed for a week and that this was necessitated by health and safety concerns.

The board arranged a meeting for 9 March to discuss this matter and a representative from the Department was invited to attend, as Deputy O'Dowd indicated. A report on the outcome of the meeting is still awaited by the Department. The Department understands that the chairperson of the board of management will be in touch with the parents of the children in the special class shortly to convey the outcome of the meeting.

On the school's accommodation, I understand the school has made an application for a permanent extension, which is currently in architectural planning. The Department recently issued a letter to the school authority approving the rental of three prefabricated classrooms for September 2005.

I thank the Deputy for affording me an opportunity to set out the position of the Department of Education and Science.

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