Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I reassure the Deputy that this process has been accelerated for some time, going back to December 2019. There were information sessions in January and there was a public forum with Involve Autism, which I met, and other relevant advocacy groups. There was also extensive consultation with some of the schools. The Department will also determine whether other accommodation options are available and can be identified. The NCSE will also continue to liaise with special schools in the area where places may since have become available that we were not aware of at the time. A site visit will also take place on Scoil Colm together with further contact with the trustees and principals of Scoil Eoin. If there is to be an expansion, although I am not saying there will be one, we do not want in any way to discommode the pupils of Scoil Eoin.

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