Ryan O'Meara (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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119. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update on a school building works application (details supplied) following approval last year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16149/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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My Department is progressing urgent building projects that involve the repurposing of existing space in schools for SEN purposes. These projects will ensure that existing school capacity is optimised and that teaching spaces are adaptable and flexible to facilitate a student-centred approach to learning. Potential repurposing options will be school and site specific, presenting different opportunities and challenges. To support the delivery of these classes in good time for the 2025/26 school year a new streamlined approach to funding is available to repurpose accommodation for SEN.

A SEN Start Up grant of €30,000 for each new SEN classroom sanctioned and opened for the 2025/26 school year will be payable to the school directly following receipt of NCSE notification of sanctioned classes. My department has commenced issuing the first tranche of these payments to schools.

The school to which the Deputy refers was approved by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) to open a special class for the 2025/2026 school year. I am pleased to advise that the start up grant payment of €30,000 has been processed by my Department.

Additional funding for small scale repurposing works up to a maximum of €70,000 per class is also available to schools on an application basis.

A small scale repurposing works application has been received and is currently under review. It is expected this review will be completed in the coming weeks after which officials at my Department will contact the school directly.

Further information on SEN repurposing supports can be accessed on www.gov.ie.