Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
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599.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide assistance to a school (details supplied), regarding the ongoing issue with this school’s accommodation needs for their additional ASD classroom; the steps being considered to address the issues highlighted; and if she will make a statement on the matter.[34789/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I can confirm to the Deputy, that the school in question submitted an application for capital funding, under my department's Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme for one modular Special education classroom.

The purpose of my department’s Additional School Accommodation (or ASA) scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream classroom accommodation and accommodation for pupils with special education needs is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year, where the need cannot be met by the school’s existing accommodation or at other schools in the area.

I am pleased to advise the Deputy that the school in question was approved funding to deliver 1 Special education classroom in 2017. This project was completed in 2019 and the special class was opened. The school was subsequently approved 3 Mainstream classrooms, (one prefab replacement) in 2019. This project was completed in 2021. The school has since submitted an application seeking modular accommodation for a second Special education class.

The Department has a significant modular accommodation programme in place to assist schools in the provision of additional capacity, including in respect of facilitating the establishment of special classes.

This programme involves the use of Project Management supports which is designed to enable the accommodation to be provided as quickly as possible and help ease the administrative workload for school authorities in relation to the management and delivery of projects.

The use of the Department’s Modular Accommodation Framework also assists in ensuring lead in periods for procurement of modular accommodation are minimised to the greatest extent possible.

The Department is working closely with the Project Management teams and the modular accommodation suppliers to ensure additional capacity for the schools sector is delivered as quickly as possible.

The Department will continue to prioritise special educational needs provision and the NCSE is working to ensure that special educational supports required by schools are in place for children transitioning into these schools. The Department and the NCSE are available to assist schools as required.

Over 400 new special classes have been sanctioned by the NCSE for the 2024/25 school year bringing the total number of special classes nationwide to 3,333 - 2,337 special classes at primary level and 996 at post primary level.

Of these new special classes for the 2024/25 school year, 16 are in Tipperary, 12 at primary level and 4 at post-primary level. This brings to 138 the number of special classes in County Tipperary, 90 at primary level and 48 at post-primary level.

The NCSE regional team confirmed the requirement for a second class at the school and my department is now progressing a modular accommodation solution for the school. An interim solution has been put in place by the school pending the delivery of this modular accommodation.

I am pleased to advise the Deputy that the department’s project managers have recently submitted a project viability report to the department’s Technical team for review. Once this review is complete the project will proceed to the next stage. I can assure the Deputy that officials in my Department will progress the project as soon as possible.