Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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Gabhaim buíochas a Leas-Cheann Comhairle and I am grateful that this Topical Issue matter has been selected which specifically looks at the project to reconfigure three mainstream classes to a two classroom special educational needs, SEN, base. The National Council for Special Education in November 2021 sanctioned a special class by letter. That process got underway. In April 2022, an application was made to the Department. In September 2022, funding was made available through the additional school accommodation scheme. As I understand it, a design team is now preparing a stage 1 report.

It seems that there is very significant demand. I do not know if the Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, is taking this matter. He knows the area well. It has a growing population with significant demand for special educational needs supports and accommodation. What is a reasonable timeframe to deliver on these projects? Where are the barriers? Are they at the Department, in planning or are they within the school? This is much-needed and needs to be delivered within a reasonable timeframe and I would welcome hearing from the Minister of State.

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Leas-Cheann Chomhairle. I am taking this matter on behalf of my colleague in the Department of Education, the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, who is not available. I thank Deputy O'Rourke for raising this matter as it provides me with the opportunity to outline to the Dáil the current position in respect of the accommodation needs of Ratoath Junior National School, in Ratoath, County Meath and the Government's, my firm commitment, and the Department of Education's firm commitment to enabling students with additional needs to receive an education appropriate to those needs. As outlined by Deputy O'Rourke, the funding for a special educational needs reconfiguration project for Ratoath Junior National School was provided and announced last summer.

A capital allocation has been provided for that associated with the planning and building unit's additional school accommodation scheme.

The project brief is to provide a two-classroom special educational needs base through the reconfiguration of three existing mainstream classrooms. The school submitted formal acceptance of the offer for reconfiguration works on 22 August 2022 and an official approval letter, advising the school of the funding allocated to reconfigure the three classrooms to meet the needs, and to provide a two-classroom special education needs base, was issued by the Department on 2 September 2022.

The delivery of this project has been devolved to the school authority, which is the board of management, which acts as the contracting authority for the project. I have contacted the board of management regarding this project in recent times and recent months as well. What has happened, as the Department knows, and as the school told me and perhaps other local Deputies, is that a design team has been appointed by the school authority for the project. The appointed design team is working on drawing up plans for the reconfiguration and preparing a submission for Department officials to review in that regard. I assure Deputy O'Rourke and our constituents in Meath East that once this submission is provided by the design team to the Department, we will work very hard and quickly to get approval for it from the Department. It is not the biggest job in the history of special education needs provision. It is the reconfiguration of three existing classrooms into two classrooms, so I do not see why it would take an inordinate amount of time.

Over the last two years the Department and the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, have worked closely on a more streamlined and joined-up planning process which has ensured a targeted approach to meet demand for special education placements ahead of the new school year. The Department continues to work with the NCSE regarding the short-term requirements for special class and special school places and also the more strategic and longer-term requirements. The number of special classes in mainstream schools has increased from 548 in 2011 to 2,148 in the last school year. Of these, almost 1,900 special classes cater for children with autism. This year, the Department will invest more than €2 billion, or more than one quarter of its budget, in the area of special education needs support. As a result, the numbers of special education teachers, special needs assistants, special classes and special school places are at unprecedented levels.

The parents, the school and Department officials have my absolute commitment that I will work as hard as I can with colleagues to ensure this project is delivered. As I said, it is not the most difficult project that has ever been imagined in the history of education. Having spoken to the school, I know it is committed to the project and the Department is very much committed to it as well.

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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I welcome the response from the Minister of State, but it raises the question of why there is a delay. We would have hoped that we would have seen progress for this academic year, and more significant progress. This did not happen. There is now the question of whether this facility will be in place during this academic year or even in time for the start of the next academic year. I note the Minister of State's point regarding the NCSE looking at a streamlined and joined-up planning process. I have also received a response, having engaged with the school. It is saying it is following the Department's procedures and guidelines.

Can efficiencies be gained by looking at these processes? Can these projects be delivered more quickly? Is there more room for improvement in this regard? What is a reasonable timeframe for delivering these projects? On what date are we likely to see this unit opened, all things going to plan? I encourage continued engagement in this regard. I know the Minister of State will do this, but we also need engagement from the Department. I will also engage from my perspective as a local Deputy. It is important that the full range of stakeholders, including the Department, engage in a proactive way. There have been delays and it has taken some time to get documentation together and to respond to requests from the Department. How quickly will this project be delivered? Is there room for efficiencies in the system overall?

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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The situation is that there was much discussion about this issue, with parents being on to all of us last year. I was engaging with the board of management at that time, and with Department officials as well. On 2 September 2022, an agreement was completed regarding this project happening. The school was then told to go about doing it. It did that and appointed a design team to do the work. It is currently drawing up plans. As I understand it, this work will not require planning permission. Again, we will wait to see what the design team says, because it is an internal reconfiguration. This is happening. The design team will certainly get this work done and submitted. It was appointed some months ago now and it will put its submission into the Department.

I am now in the Department of Education, as Minister of State with special responsibility for physical education, as well as sport. I will certainly be working closely with officials to ensure there is no delay on our side because I know the importance of this project in Ratoath, as does, to be fair to its members, the board of management of Ratoath junior school as well. They are absolutely committed to this project, but they do have to go through certain procedures. I do not think it has been particularly long since September, although I am as impatient as everybody else for this project to be finished and for our children to have spaces in their local area, which has always been a key priority of the Government and must be a key priority for all of us.