Denise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein)
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481. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to clarify when building works for a new autism classroom at a school (details supplied) will be completed; the interim solution in place for children offered a place in this autism class for September but will be unable to start at the school until these building works are complete; the engagement the Department has had with parents of these children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39231/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The school was approved to enter the Department’s pipeline for a project under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme to provide one Special Education Classroom. The project was devolved to the school authority for delivery.

My Department has been working closely with the school to ensure that this project advances as efficiently as possible, and the project has now been approved to proceed to the construction stage.

Responsibility for progressing the build now rests with the school, and the Department has been engaging with the school throughout to support timely delivery of the project. The Department understands that the school has kept its community informed as appropriate.

The builder has confirmed that construction will commence in August with a projected completion during the October mid-term break. In the meantime, the school has interim arrangements in place to meet students’ needs until the permanent accommodation is complete and the school has confirmed they will be contacting the parents directly to advise these arrangements.