Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I wish to be associated with the comments made earlier in regard to Deputy Denis Naughten in his last contribution to the House.

In what I hope will not be my last contribution to the House, and I imagine many of us are in the same position, I raise the issue of Scoil Chiaráin on St. Canice's Road, in my area, which is a special school. Earlier in the summer, it received full approval for a fantastic new extension and an expansion of that site. I ask the Minister to relate to the Minister for Education everything he can to ensure that project is progressed and is not in any way delayed during the tendering and construction phase. We want to get on site. The reason I say that is the special schools are a really important structure in our community. Both the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, and the Tánaiste had to intervene to prevent therapists being withdrawn from that school over recent years. Those special schools can become the place, and I heard the Tánaiste say it, where therapies and treatments can be delivered not just to those who are in special schools but actually to the wider school network. I would appreciate it if the Minister could raise it with the Tánaiste.

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