Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 February 2018
63. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to deal with the crisis facing persons at a school (details supplied) in Dublin 8 in view of the fact that in September 2018 there will be no classroom facilities for special education teaching and just one junior infant class enrolled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4842/18]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that the school concerned is located in a former primary school building that was secured as part of Government policy on school divesting.
The property is subject to a 10 year lease between the Edmund Rice Schools Trust (ERST) and the Minister for Education and Skills.
As the Deputy is aware, the school has submitted an application to my Department for additional accommodation to facilitate expansion.
However, the lease requires the consent of ERST to place this accommodation on the school site. In this regard, my Department is currently engaging with ERST to secure this consent and expects a response from ERST shortly.
Department officials have also been liaising with the school principal recently and have advised the principal that the accommodation will be approved as soon as this consent is granted.
