The building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an early stage of architectural planning. Officials from the Department of Education and Science visited the school in question in June of last year to carry out a technical inspection of the existing accommodation and to assess the needs of the pupils attending the school.
The school authorities have embarked on a major redevelopment programme which is currently at a very early design stage. They are assessing the needs into the future of the residents with special needs on the campus and outreach facilities and the many support services and industries around them.
The school's design team is preparing a development control plan for the site, of which this school forms part, and the Department of Education and Science is awaiting its response before the project can proceed further. In the meantime a member of the Department's inspectorate has drafted a schedule of overall accommodation to reflect the current educational needs of the pupils attending the school.