Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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359. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for details of her engagements with a school (details supplied) regarding their proposal to temporarily house a proposed special school in “Phase 2” of their new premises, rather than in prefabricated units on land designated for use as the school’s outdoor space; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13598/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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My department, together with the National Council for Special Education, has been working with parents, schools, patron bodies and other stakeholders in Dublin to provide sufficient specialist school placements for children with special educational needs.

The special school referred to is one of the 5 new special schools due to be opened for the 2025/26 school year to meet the demand for additional special school places in the North Dublin area. The urgency associated with establishing this new school means that existing accommodation must be utilised. This will then allow the school to open as quickly as possible. My Department is continuing to engage with the patron of the existing school as part of this process.

This is an interim arrangement for the new special school and the Department is working towards a long-term solution.