Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I sincerely thank Senator Martin for raising this matter. It provides me with an opportunity to update the House on the proposed transfer of land to Scoil Mochua, Celbridge, County Kildare. In the first instance, I assure the Senator that the provision of accommodation for children with special educational needs is a priority for the Government and the Department of Education.

The NCSE has a statutory function to plan and co-ordinate the provision of education and support services for children with special educational needs in consultation with the relevant education partners and the HSE. This includes the establishment of special class and special school placements in various geographical areas where there is an identified need. When the NCSE sanctions a special class in a school, either primary or post-primary, school authorities can apply to the Department for capital funding to reconfigure an existing space within the school building to accommodate the class. Alternatively, it can construct additional accommodation under the Department's additional school accommodation, ASA, scheme. Application forms are available on the Department's website. Similarly, where special schools are requesting to expand provision or wish to refurbish existing facilities, they may also apply to the Department for a capital fund to carry out these works.

Over the last two years, the Department and the 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 each new school year. The Department continues to work with the NCSE in relation to the short-term requirements for special class and special school places and also the more strategic and longer term requirements.

Arising from that close engagement, the Department is aware of ongoing discussions between the NCSE and Scoil Mochua regarding the establishment of special classes at the school. The Department is also aware that the school contacted Kildare County Council in 2021 inquiring about additional lands adjacent to the school site with the view to acquiring said lands for the development of an AstroTurf pitch and to cater for an additional two special educational needs, SEN, classes that were sanctioned, as the Senator has already alluded to, by the NCSE in early 2021. The council then informed the Department in early 2022 that it was progressing the transfer of said lands adjacent to Scoil Mochua into its ownership. The council also advised that the lands in question were zoned "amenity and open space" and that no school accommodation was permitted to be developed on these lands.

As Scoil Mochua is owned by the St. Laurence O'Toole Diocesan Trust and the school site is therefore not in State ownership, the Department has no direct role in this proposed land transfer. Once any required site extension is secured, the school can apply for capital funding under the ASA scheme. The purpose of this scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream and special educational classroom accommodation is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year and where the need cannot be met by the school's existing accommodation. On receipt of the ASA application from the school, the Department will review the school's requirements and engage with it in respect of any accommodation needs as quickly as possible.