Ciarán Ahern (Dublin South West, Labour)
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222. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update regarding the proposed expansion of an autism class in a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24951/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I can confirm to the Deputy, that my department has recently received an application for capital funding, under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme, from the school in question.

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

The application is being considered by my officials currently and I can confirm that they have been liaising with the school authorities in relation to the matter. There are limitations to the scope of any development at the school in question and any additional accommodation needs to be considered carefully.

I can assure the Deputy that once the assessment is finalised and a decision is reached, the school authorities will be contacted directly.