John Clendennen (Offaly, Fine Gael)
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181. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the case of a school (details supplied); her views on whether on the appropriateness of same; if action can be taken in the short-to-medium term to mitigate this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66551/25]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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The school to which the Deputy refers to occupies temporary accommodation at present and was approved for a major building project to address its permanent needs. The brief for the project is the development of a new 12 classroom special school for pupils with special education needs, on Department owned lands. In addition to the 12 general classrooms, the new school design includes a library area, a Home Economics Room, an Art room, Daily Living Skills and Practical Activity rooms, a GP room and therapy spaces.

This major project is being delivered under the Department's ADAPT Programme. The ADAPT Programme uses a professional external Programme Manager to co-ordinate and drive the Design Team to achieve the best possible timeframe for the project through the stages of Architectural Planning and on to Tender and Construction. The project has been approved to progress to Stage 2(b) of Architectural Planning – Detailed Design, where all statutory approvals are secured, and the suite of tender documents are prepared. The Design Team have recently secured planning permission and will now progress with detailed design and complete Stage 2B.

Pending provision on their new school building, my Department will continue to support the school with their interim accommodation needs and it is open to the school authority to contact the department in this regard.