Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Acting Chairperson is sick of my voice already on a Monday morning.

I note the Senator’s comments about this school. When there is any site acquisition by the Department, we must consider best value for money. That is the reality of the situation. The site acquisition must be thoroughly interrogated by the Department.

I appreciate the Senator’s kind comments about my work. We have had a 286% increase in special class places over the past decade and there are 2,118 special classes this year, providing places to 12,700 children with additional needs. I would like to see this unit up and running at St. Mary’s Boys National School before September, but we have to let the negotiations take place and the Department to acquire the site and work with the school as closely as possible. I hope that there will be good news.