Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Fianna Fail)
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I wish to speak to the Minister of State about a school in Carlow. This is the third issue relating to a school that I have raised in recent months concerning schools for children with disabilities. I will explain the situation to the Minister of State, whom I am sure has investigated the matter.

Saplings Carlow is a special school for children with autism and complex needs. In 2007 a number of parents from the Carlow area began the process of setting up the school. It was run more or less like a private school with tutors assigned and designated to each pupil. The school thrived and by 2010 became a Department of Education and Skills special school. Teachers and a principal were employed. DEIS funding paid a grant for the behaviour analyst and tutors became SNAs, resuming all of their previous duties. After Iengthy negotiations a seven-year transition agreement was reached, which has now been extended to 2019, a further two years.

The school originally started as a 12-pupil school and has recently grown to 19 pupils. It currently has a principal, a behaviour analyst, four teachers and 13 SNAs. The group of pupils range from four years to 18 years and have mild to severe learning difficulties with autism being the primary diagnosis. Pupils who attend Saplings Carlow do so mainly because of the nature and severity of how their behaviour and autism impacts on their daily life. Many pupils have failed to progress in their placement in mainstream schools, autism spectrum disorder units and special schools so this school is essential seen as a high support placement and a specialised setting.

Many of the staff are highly qualified having master's degrees in special needs and autism. The main issue with the school building is that it is not fit for purpose. On 8 December 2016 the school had a critical incident whereby one of the pupils became extremely aggressive, which resulted in one teacher being knocked unconscious and many staff were injured. Both the children and the staff are in serious danger of being hurt. There is a duty of care to both pupils and staff. However, if they cannot educate the pupils there are no other options for them or their parents.

The conditions are appalling. It is unacceptable that society's most vulnerable children and the staff dedicated to them endure such inappropriate conditions. The school is based on the site of an old bungalow house. Therefore, the heating and sewerage are not suited to the needs of a school. The heating system is inadequate for the school. The building is freezing on a daily basis, with many staff and children wearing coats for the entire day. That is difficult to believe in 2017. There is severe damp in the bungalow. The damp is dreadful with a fungus continuously growing on the walls. The corridor is narrow and is not wheelchair accessible, which is a problem as many children are in wheelchairs.

When a child is demonstrating challenging behaviour and is engaging in continuous aggression, self injuring or high magnitude destructive behaviour, they are escorted to the chill room or outside, depending on the child, regardless of the weather. Staff have received injury after injury and multiple bruising from being shoved, punched, kicked and hit in the narrow corridor. There are days when an aggressive child has to stand outside in the rain until he or she calms down because the physical space is not available inside the building. Another issue is that the child is a safety concern for other pupils. It is difficult to believe that is happening in 2017.

The staff kitchen is far too small. The kitchen was originally built to accommodate a family of four and now it must accommodate a staff of 20 plus. The staff room is a place of rest and should be a place of rejuvenation for staff members. The main bathroom is leaking and the leak from the bathroom is now coming into the classroom. The disruption caused is appalling. As well as the many other issues the school faces, the daily issues include problems with sewerage, yard space, no general purpose room or adequate room for eating lunch or getting exercise on wet days.The front lobby is extremely narrow and dangerous, with far too many students, escorts and parents dropping and collecting children. A staff member's nose was broken this time last year, and two teachers have had their noses broken since then.

The lack of space and health and safety risks are endured on the premises every day. The sewage is overflowing and backs up once a month, sometimes fortnightly. It is costing €250 to deal with the problem each time, which means that grants are spent on trying to sort out the sewage problem.

Every year, the school has phone calls from parents looking for places for their children. It is not in any position to enrol more students this year because it is too small. This time last year, 29 children were enrolled in the school but only six could be facilitated. Expressions of interest for this year have been sought and many families are trying to get their children into the school.

I am ashamed that, in 2017, these vulnerable children, who do not attend mainstream schools or fit into autism units in mainstream schools, are dealing with conditions like this.

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Senator Murnane O'Connor made a very strong case. I understand the situation.

I apologise that the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Richard Bruton, was not present to hear the strong case the Senator made. He is familiar with the Saplings school in Carlow, the great work that is done there. I understand there are 19 students, four teachers and 12 other staff. The Minister is familiar with the work that is being done there and understands the situation.

The Senator asked us to outline the position from our point of view and that of the Department. Saplings school is a co-educational school operating under the patronage of Saplings Limited Carlow and caters for children with autism and complex needs. The Saplings facility was founded in 2007 by Saplings Limited, which had responsibility for sourcing and operating the accommodation that the school currently occupies and has rented a property from a local landlord. As the Senator said, the parents established the school in 2007.

Saplings was granted temporary recognition as a primary school by the Department of Education and Skills in 2011. In this regard, the board of management has responsibility for the school's accommodation. This includes responsibility for ensuring that the accommodation complies at all times with planning, fire, health and safety, and building regulations. The school's management must also satisfy itself that the necessary insurances are in place.

In September 2016, the school was granted permanent recognition by the Department. As part of this recognition, the board of management was advised that the provision of interim accommodation remained the responsibility of the patron.

The Department is aware that there are issues with the sewerage system at the school and that the board of management has made arrangements to have these matters addressed. The Department provides funding for the school towards the cost of renting the current building. The Department also provides a grant to the school to facilitate reconfiguration works within the building to provide an extra classroom and additional sanitary facilities to meet increased enrolment. The Department is aware that the board is actively looking for alternative accommodation and will continue to engage directly with the school in the context of its accommodation needs.

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Fianna Fail)
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I compliment the board of management, which is doing an excellent job. It has looked for accommodation but the current bungalow is not fit for purpose. The board of management and the Department should seek a new premises immediately. It is very difficult to find a suitable premises for the children's needs. This is urgent. I ask the Minister of State to ask the Minister for Education and Skills to intervene and make sure that the Department helps the board of management to find a new premises for the children, who are the most vulnerable children in our society.

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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I will pass on the information to the Minister, Deputy Bruton. The Department funds the rent for the current premises and is quite happy to fund the rent for an alternative premises. From the point of view of the Department, the board is responsible for the premises and is also best placed locally to find alternative accommodation. We understand it is looking for that, and will be happy to facilitate that and work with the board of management.

In terms of capital plans for the future, it is only when a school has permanent recognition that it can apply for capital funds belonging to the taxpayer. The school received that in September 2016. It is something on which the patron and parents can work if they want to bring forward a case for a new building or permanent building for the school.That is entirely up to themselves but the Department understands they are seeking alternative accommodation. The Department is happy to work with them and will fund such accommodation. The decision on the matter is a local one for the school board.