Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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153. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he has engaged with a group (details supplied) in County Cork; if his Department has assessed the need for a new special primary ASD school in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20932/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that new schools are established to meet demographic demand. In general, the Department's policy is to integrate children with special educational needs into the mainstream school system wherever possible. Many of our schools have special education units included within them. However, Special Schools are also necessary to meet the educational needs of pupils whose needs cannot be adequately catered for in a mainstream school.

The need to establish a new special school would normally be first identified by the National Council for Special Education in conjunction with the Department when they identify gaps in special needs provision in a given area.

The National Council for Special Education has advised my Department that there is an emerging need for a number of Special School placement options in the Cork area and are currently engaging with my Department in evaluating options, including a number of options which have been identified in correspondence from the group of parents to which the Deputy has referred.

In addition, major building projects for a number of special schools in Cork are included on the Department's Capital Programme (2016 – 2021)

Holy Family Special School, Charleville, RN 19433M

School of the Divine Child, Ballintemple RN 15781P

St Killian’s School, Bishopstown, RN 19410A

St Kevin’s School, Infirmary Road, RN 19788D

The projects include extensions and replacement schools while also providing for additionality where possible.

I understand that the ‘Parents for a new Special School in cork’ Group have received a number of responses to their correspondence already and that a further response will issue shortly.

In the meantime the Department is grateful for the proposals submitted and can confirm that the suggested sites identified by the Group are being investigated and are under active consideration with a view to ensuring appropriate provision is in place to meet emerging needs in Cork.