Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. Tá an cheist seo ardaithe agam léi, agus le Airí Oideachais eile, roimhe seo. D'ardaigh mé í le déanaí leis an Aire Stáit, an Teachta Madigan. My specific part of this relates to Scoil Colm. I know the Minister has visited the site, as has the Minister, Deputy Ryan, and other Members of this House and the other House. They saw for themselves the empty school building in an educational campus in the heart of Dublin 12 near HSE facilities. I believe the HSE is about to put a disability service next door to this site. It is ideal in every single way and it also would help to address a major need that has been identified by the Department and parents. They are crying out for somewhere central when they are dropping off one child and another child then has to be put back into the car and moved to another location. That is if they are lucky enough to find a place for their child who has additional needs. There is an urgent need for this.

Few sites are available in Dublin. This is an educational space; it is an old school. However, it also has gardens, playing fields, yards and so on already in situ. It might cost money to fit it out because we are talking about an autism spectrum disorder-specific school rather than a unit.

I know there have been discussions with the Department. Can the Minister fill us in on whether they have gone well? The Department has been liaising with the various school patrons and the like.

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