Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 674: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the date at which the authorities at a school (details supplied) in County Kildare received approval for the establishment of an autism spectrum disorder unit; the number of students for which it was intended to cater; the number of students now enrolled; the degree to which his Department is aware of the temporary nature of the accommodation in use for this purpose; the extent to which this limits and restricts the operation of the full range of facilities within this school; if his attention has been drawn to the numerous attempts by the school authorities to secure the relevant and necessary accommodation and facilities to operate the unit as originally intended; if he proposes to take any action to address his Department's failure to honour its original commitments in this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5013/10]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that a special class for autism was approved for the school in question in April 2007. He will be aware that special classes for children with autism may cater for up to 6 children and I have been advised that there are currently two children enrolled in the class in question.

The school has made application to my Department for major capital funding. This application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and has been assigned a Band 1 rating.

The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, from initial design stage through to construction phase will be considered in the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. However, in light of current competing demands on my Department's capital budget, it is not possible to give an indicative timeframe for the progression of the project at this time.