Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein)
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Cuirim céad fáilte roimh an Aire. Tá mé thar a bheith sásta gur í féin atá anseo, mar Aire sinsearach sa Roinn Oideachais, leis an gceist seo a ghlacadh. Tá scoil an-speisialta againn ar an gCeathrú Rua, Tigh Nan Dooley, atá ag déanamh obair den scoth agus táim ag ardú ceiste ar a son ar maidin.

I am very happy that the Minister has been able to take the time to come to the House to take this Commencement Matter. Tigh Nan Dooley is a special school located in Carraroe, County Galway. It provides an education to pupils with special educational needs, including moderate, severe and profound general learning difficulties and autistic spectrum disorder. It is under the patronage of Ability West. The school received permanent recognition from the Department of Education and Skills in 2010, operates through the medium of Irish and is the only school of its type in the country. It covers the area from Barna to Inisboffin in County Galway. We are very proud of the school and it is a very important resource in the area.

I note the whole school evaluation that was done in the school recently gave it a glowing report. It said the main strengthsof the work of the school are that the school staff works in a very effective and unified manner to meet the needs of each pupil, it has a highly effective principal who works diligently to provide a holistic and relevant education for the pupils, exemplary links have been established with local national schools to promote the ongoing and progressive inclusion of pupils, where relevant, the quality of pupil management is excellent, the quality of teaching and learning in all subject areas is of a very high standard, the curriculum is differentiated effectively to address pupils' learning needs and it has a very open ethos and friendly atmosphere.

The daily whole school assemblies greatly enhance staff collegiality and the very strong relationships between teachers and pupils promote a sense of community. The report makes one recommendation on the ongoing investment in curriculum-related materials and resources being used to maximise the engagement of individual pupils. A refurbishment was done a number of years ago which was not fully completed. I understand there are currently no family or assessment rooms in the building. There is space for two classrooms in the upstairs of the building. The area has been plumbed, windows are in place and electrical work has been completed, and it has been passed for special needs assessment needs. There is an issue with a lift in terms of making the space accessible to the pupils.

It is very difficult for the staff, who are exemplary, to be able to deliver the necessary curriculum properly until the space is accessible and made available to them. When will the Department see fit to upgrade the available space and ensure that the staff can give these very special children all of the attention they need and as good a chance as possible to further their education in this very special setting?

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I wish to clarify the current position on the school in Carraroe, County Galway. The Senator will be aware of the demographic challenge facing the education system in the coming years. Primary enrolments, which have already risen substantially in recent years, are projected to rise by over 36,000 pupils by 2016 and are set to continue to rise, with a likely peak at around 574,000 pupils to be catered for in 2018. This compares with 526,422 pupils enrolled in primary schools for the 2012-2013 school year. It is vital that there is sufficient school accommodation to cope with these pupil enrolments.

In order to meet the needs of our growing population of school going children, my Department's priority is to establish new schools as well as extending or replacing a number of existing schools in areas where demographic growth has been identified. The delivery of these new schools, together with extension projects to meet future demand, will continue to be the main focus for investment by my Department in the coming years.

However, regarding the school at Tigh Nan Dooley in Carraroe, County Galway, what will be of more interest to the Senator is that this school was transferred to my Department from the Health Service Executive in 2007.It has eight pupils enrolled in the 2014-2015 academic year and has a staffing of a principal and one special class teacher. I understand that the school is accommodated in a purpose built development centre owned by the school's patron, Ability West. The school applied for permanent recognition, which was granted by my Department in 2010. I can confirm that the school submitted an application for funding in 2012. The project wasnot progressed at that time due to the need to prioritise essential mainstream accommodation to meet demographic needs and the school was advised of the outcome.

However, my Department would be prepared to consider an application for funding to meet an immediate accommodation requirement, including works to address accessibility issues in respect of the school in question. Officials from my Department will be in contact with the school authorities to discuss the accommodation issues at the school in the coming days. I again thank the Senator for giving me the opportunity to outline the position regarding Tigh Nan Dooley, Carraroe, County Galway.

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein)
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It is very good news that the Minister is willing to accept the application and I thank her very much. On the timelines and possible capital funding being available for the upgrade, would this come from the existing capital funding allocation or would there be quite a long time between the application being made and being realised, when the full facilities would be made available to the students in the school?

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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The coming days are relatively soon and if there is any delay I am sure the Senator or the school will contact me and let me know.

With regard to the funding, I imagine it will not have to wait for the next five year capital funding programme, which will be from the beginning of 2016. Issues such as this, with regard to needed accommodation can be considered in the meantime so it would not necessarily have to wait for the new capital funding.

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein)
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That is great news. I thank the Minister.