Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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271. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on progress of the new ASD unit for a school (details supplied); and to expedite the completion works in light of the delays to competing this unit for the school. [36052/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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This school was recently granted approval for the for the provision of the reconfiguration of an existing classroom to create one Special Education Needs Classroom under the Department's SEN Reconfiguration programme. 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 Term Maintenance Framework also assists in ensuring lead in periods for procurement of contractors are minimised to the greatest extent possible.

The school authority received their first tranche of funding and the design stage of this project is now complete. The tentative expected start on site date is 23rd September 2024 with a tentative estimated completion timeline of approximately 8-10 weeks. The assigned Project Manager will keep the School Authority updated regularly as the project progresses.

The NCSE will work closely with the school authority to progress with the admission of students and the recruitment and training of staff. The Department is supporting the reconfiguration of accommodation under a project management framework in a number of the schools in which the 408 new special classes for 2024/25 are being established.

While the preparatory work is completed for the establishment of the special classes at the bulk of these schools, there are a relatively small number of schools that have reconfiguration works on-going or due to commence shortly.

The NCSE and the Department have engaged with the school and interim contingency arrangements have been put in place.

In addition, it is expected that the school would work with the families and students to plan for their transition to the new special class. This work is also being supported by the NCSE.