Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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502. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a school (details supplied) has been placed in a four-stage building process for their autism class; if she will take action to ensure the builders can start work immediately; if she is aware that a class has already been enrolled for September 2025, but the classroom is now unlikely to be ready; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39510/25]

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.

The letter issued to the school outlined the full four-step process typically followed for ASA projects. While this process remains accurate, it is recognised that, in this instance, significant progress had already been made on earlier stages. The 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 builder has confirmed that construction will commence in August. An earlier commencement date of construction is a matter for the school authority to raise with the contractor as the project has been approved to construction by my Department.

In the meantime, the school has interim arrangements in place to meet students’ needs until the permanent accommodation is complete.