Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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691. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a start date has not yet been provided to a child (details supplied); if she received correspondence from their family in relation to the delay; and when a start will be provided. [58214/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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The school to which the Deputy refers was granted approval for the provision of two special education needs classrooms under my department's Additional School Accommodation Scheme. This was to provide accommodation for 2 new special classes sanctioned by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).

The project is being delivered under the department’s Devolved Special Education Reconfiguration and Modular Accommodation programme. The department has a significant modular accommodation programme in place to assist schools in the provision of additional capacity, including in respect of facilitating the establishment of special classes. This programme involves the use of project management supports which is designed to enable the accommodation to be provided as quickly as possible and help ease the administrative workload for school authorities in relation to the management and delivery of projects.

Kerrigan Sheanon Newman Consultants (KSN) were appointed, from the department’s framework to design and tender the project. This consultant has led the project through the various stages of planning process and construction.

My department received confirmation that the modular classrooms were substantially complete in late August 2025. The school authorities raised some concerns with my department regarding the project and a site meeting followed on site between my department officials, school authorities, the architect and the project managers to discuss the schools concerns.

The department is fully aware of the urgency in respect of outstanding works and KSN are working with the school authority to keep them updated on timelines. My department wish to confirm that the modular classrooms are fit for occupation and that the school should now move to support children transition to the new special classes. The school has been approved staffing and resources for the 2 new special classes and these teachers and SNAs should be available to support the students transition to the new special classes.

My Department will ask the NCSE to monitor the situation at local level.