Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

First, I wish to reassure the Deputy that the Department and the design team within it, the NCSE and the local ETB will continue to review the accommodation options available to allow the special school to grow and expand. While it is initially for 18 students in the coming year, we want to ensure we have available space to meet the growing need that we anticipate within the Monaghan community over the next number of years. I do not have to hand the exact number of students who had applied by 31 March but I will get that information for the Deputy and pass it on to him.

I am reassured by the Department and the NCSE that they are reviewing. There is a lot of work going on in the context of the five special schools we are opening throughout the country. Each one of them has a working group to ensure it is opening with the necessary facilities not just for this year but for future years as well.

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