Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North-Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise the issue of the need for a special school in Cork. Like many other public representatives in Cork, I welcomed the announcement in October, before the election, by the then Minister, Deputy Foley, that we would get a special school in Cork, albeit in an undisclosed location that was subject to negotiation. Fast forward five months and I know from talking to people on the ground that no progress has been made in acquiring a site for this building to open in September. No time is being allowed between now and then to refurbish the existing building. It cannot be delivered by next September. We gave people a commitment that a special school would open in September 2025 and I just cannot see at this point in time how it will be done. I ask that this matter be treated with urgency and that the Department of Education told to get its act together to source the building or the site and get on with delivering the special school.

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