Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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414. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 359 of 25 March 2025, and respecting that existing accommodation must be used to meet the demand for special school places in north Dublin, the reason her Department is seeking to use prefabricated buildings on outdoor space belonging to an existing school rather housing the new school in "phase 2" of that same existing school, given that the latter proposal is supported by the school, is consistent with inclusive education policy, and would provide better learning conditions for the staff and students of the new school and considering that both proposals qualify as making use of existing accommodation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15523/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Further to Parliamentary Question No. 359 of 25 March, I wish to advise the Deputy that there is a requirement for significant increases in mainstream and special class enrolments in the post primary school in question in 2025/26 and future years. The special school will also be required to substantially grow enrolments over the coming years to meet pressing requirements for special school places. This reflects the importance of using modular accommodation for the special school in order to maximise available special school, special class and mainstream places.

The post primary school has offered the use of some of the new school building. This proposal however would provide about 20% less usable space for the special school than the modular accommodation. There would also be significant technical issues involved with repurposing it to meet the needs of the special school. It would also impact on the requirement for significant growth in mainstream enrolments at the school and special classes.

The Department had a constructive meeting with the school patron and the school on 25th March in relation to the arrangements for opening the new special school at the campus. Further engagement has been agreed with a view to finalising the practical arrangements over the coming short period.