Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Labour Party for bringing the motion forward. Danu Community Special School in my constituency of Dublin West agreed last summer to take an additional 12 children - two new classes - to deal with a school places crisis we were experiencing in Dublin 15. Those children were due to start in the school in September of last year. They are all now on the books of Danu school.

However, not one of those children has started their educational journey in Danu because the two modular classes have not been provided. Some of them are in inappropriate school places elsewhere. Most are still at home. When are the modular units for Danu Community Special School going to be provided? There is no planning permission in place and no final design has been agreed. All we have right now is a soil test.

Those kids were meant to be in Danu last September. I do not know if we can say they will be in the school in September of this year. I appeal to the Minister of State to engage with his officials in the Department to see what we can do to unlock this process to ensure those modular units are delivered. He has spoken about the delivery of new school places this September but we have not built the units that were promised last September. This makes it hard for parents to believe they will be delivered. I ask that the Minister of State work to ensure the 12 children in Danu get the appropriate school places they need and deserve.

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