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

I thank Deputies Durkan and Cronin for so eloquently outlining the issues faced by St. Raphael's school and the details of a public meeting, of which I was not aware, concerning the issues St. Raphael's in particular has been facing. The Deputies will be pleased to hear that a building project to provide a new school building for St. Raphael's is included in the Department’s school building programme. As was mentioned, a site is required for that purpose. At present, the Department is at a very advanced stage in the process of acquiring a suitable site, which is located at Donaghcumper. When this has been acquired, the architectural planning process for the new school can be initiated. In the meantime, the Deputies will be aware that my Department approved three temporary classrooms for the school in May 2020. The project has been devolved to the school for delivery. I understand that a decision on the planning application is due shortly. When that is secured and the accommodation is tendered, the school will submit a tender report with a recommendation to my Department for approval.

It is important to me, as the very first Minister of State with responsibility for special education, that we look after children with special needs. Education is a right and it should be vindicated as such. We must look after the most vulnerable in society and that includes children with special needs. In recognition of that, 20% of the Department's budget, or €2 billion, is dedicated to special education. Since 2011, we have increased the number of special classes by 235%. We have gone from approximately 548 special classes to approximately 1,800 such classes. That is progress. This year alone, we have 197 new special classes and approximately 189 of those are autism spectrum disorder, ASD, special classes. Notwithstanding this investment, we are always looking to increase the provisions we make for children with special needs by adding to an existing school, setting up a new special school, setting up a special class or integrating children into the mainstream.

The National Council for Special Education does a significant amount of work and has overall responsibility for co-ordinating and advising on education provision for children with special needs. At this stage, it has well-established structures in place for engaging with schools and parents. It is important that we get the co-operation of schools when we are trying to expand a school or improve it. I clearly heard what the Deputies said about the existing facilities, in particular at St. Raphael's school, not being in any way sufficient.

Therefore, I am glad a new site is required for a school campus development in order to cater for the permanent needs of St. Patrick's National School, Celbridge Community College and St. Raphael's Special School. As I stated, the Department is at a very advanced stage in the process of acquiring a suitable site located at Donaghcumper.

I can confirm that agreement in principle has been reached with a landowner for the acquisition of that site and that ongoing work is progressing in respect of the technical matters that are crucial to the delivery of this acquisition. We are, of course, continuing to engage actively and regularly with both Kildare County Council and the landowner, who is currently preparing a master plan for the site as a whole. I note what the Deputies have said about roads and infrastructure in the environs.

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