Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As the Minister, Deputy Bruton, is well aware, this project, the Holy Family School at Cootehill, is of utmost importance. This school was established in 1966 and one of its founders was our former colleague in this House, Dr. Rory O'Hanlon. It serves the catchment area of Cavan and Monaghan and it is the only special needs school we have in either county. Since 2002, the school population has doubled. The enrolment in September is 168. The main buildings were constructed in 1973 and the school is now on two sites. As I discussed with the Minister - I appreciate our recent meeting - there is an urgent need to progress to construction stage the proposed permanent accommodation.

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