Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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309. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person (details supplied) has been unable to begin their long-awaited education in a specialised setting despite the school being open and functioning for other students; if her attention has been drawn to the negative effects this uncertainty has on the person and their family; and if she can provide a starting date in order that this person can obtain their education. [49799/21]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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My Department is in ongoing contact with the management of this new school regarding the phased transition of the students to the school, now that the building works have been completed.

Very significant progress has been made in establishing this new school, recruitment of teachers and SNAs and reaching out to parents of the children enrolled.

I am very pleased that the first group of students have attended for over a week now. The next group are due to attend from 14 October next, with all remaining students expected to transition to the new school over the coming weeks.

As the Principal and staff have taken up their new appointments, they have been working with and are supported by the Department’s Inspectorate, the National Council for Special Education and the National Educational Psychological Service on their own training plan and the transition planning required for the individual students.

The school authorities have been very anxious to ensure clear and consistent communication with parents around the transition process and I can reassure the Deputy that the Principal is in ongoing contact with each of the families involved.