Written answers

Tuesday, 24 March 2015

Department of Education and Skills

Schools Amalgamation

Photo of Pat RabbittePat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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832. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills in respect of the proposed amalgamation of two schools (details supplied) in Dublin 12, her Department's involvement in the consultation and preparation process; if her attention has been drawn to parents' concerns regarding consultation, particularly regarding facilities in the proposed accommodation on the site; her views on concerns expressed by parents of children in the autistic spectrum disorder unit in one school regarding accommodation arrangements, a safe environment, continuation of facilities including homework club and adequate space for the unit; her plans to meet such concerns and for the provision of suitable accommodation for these units across each of the existing schools, and for such provision to be in place in advance of the amalgamation which parents have been advised will commence from September 2015; the date of commencement and projected completion of full such facilities and provision; the way the existing preschool and Montessori facility on the site will be accommodated in an amalgamation arrangement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12113/15]

Photo of Jan O'SullivanJan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I wish to confirm to the Deputy that my Department has agreed to the request submitted by the Patron to the re-organisation of the three schools referred to in Dublin 12 into junior and senior co-education schools. Taking into account representations from the Boards of Management that sufficient time would be allowed for a smooth transition, it was decided that the two new schools would commence in September 2015.

As the Deputy will be aware, any amalgamation proposal must involve consultation between all of the relevant school stakeholders. Following the consultation process, a decision taken at local level will follow. All agreed amalgamation proposals must be submitted to my Department for approval.

The Patron's office has confirmed that accommodation for the children in the Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Unit has been a major consideration in the local consultations that have taken place. While the junior school already has an ASD Unit, it has been agreed, following a request from the National Council for Special Education, that an ASD unit will also be established in the senior school.

My Department has confirmed to the Patron and school boards that funding, on a devolved basis, will be provided to both schools to establish these Units which will include classrooms, sensory rooms and central activity space areas. My Department is working closely with the schools concerned so that this permanent accommodation will be in place by September 2016. In that regard, I understand from the Patron that parents of the children in the ASD Unit recently visited the school to review the arrangements being put in place for the coming school year.

I also am aware that one of the school's, in question, has an arrangement with a privately operated Montessori school that rents spare rooms in the school concerned. Subject to the provision of sufficient accommodation to meet the demands of the primary schools, any future arrangement will be a local matter between the schools and the private operator concerned. Other local arrangements at school level will also be a matter for the schools concerned.

In the meantime, the schools are undertaking conversion works to facilitate the co-education arrangement from next September and funding is also being provided to the schools concerned for these works.

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