Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for that information and indeed the constructive and positive response. Again, I stress that it is absolutely vital that the modular units are delivered on time for September. I welcome the fact that there will be weekly meetings regarding the project to ensure that it is moving and on track. I also welcome the fact that it has entered the delivery phase. That is certainly progress but the clock is ticking. September is not too far away and the school finds itself in a precarious situation that it really wants to avoid of not being able to open its doors in September. That is very understandable given the health and safety issues and indeed the flight risk posed by some of the pupils who have autism. All of that has to be factored in, hence the urgency and the emergency situation. It should also be noted that the school is in the town of Tullamore so it has done everything possible to accommodate students. It has absolutely gone out of its way to make sure that students who come looking for places are accommodated. That is why it really does need every assistance possible. It should also be noted that it has 62 pupils who need English as an additional language, EAL, tuition and they also have no classroom. We have a situation where the autistic pupils have no classroom, a mainstream class has no actual classroom and also 62 EAL students have no classroom.

It really is urgent and I would hope that the two modular units that I understand will be divided into three for these classrooms will be in place by September. I look forward to engaging further with the Minister for Education in this respect.

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