Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 160: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will confirm the date when a school (details supplied) will reopen; and if she will take all reasonable steps to ensure that the special children enrolled in the school will not lose another term at this vital stage of their education. [34606/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy may be aware, three teaching vacancies out of a total teaching complement of four teaching posts have arisen in the school in question for the 2007/2008 school year, namely the posts of principal and two teachers. Due to this exceptional number of vacancies, the school was unable to re-open in September 2007.

I am informed that the recruitment process is in hand and the Board of Management has advised that a person has accepted an offer of the principal's post in this school. The individual in question is currently working through a notice period in his present school. Every effort is being made to expedite the recruitment process for the two remaining staff vacancies with a view to re-opening the school as soon as possible.

Arrangements have been made to facilitate some of the children's attendance at other schools as a short-term measure. Where this has not been possible home tuition has been offered to the remaining families. My Department is continuing to liaise with the school in the context of re-opening the school at the earliest possible date.