Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 November 2021
84. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Education if funding will be made available for a portacabin for a counselling room in a school (details supplied) in Dublin 15 due to the loss of 40% of its classrooms to another school that is being built on the same site. [57225/21]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has no record of receiving an application for additional accommodation from the Rath Dara Community College. It is open to the school to liaise with its patron, Dublin Dun Laoghaire ETB, regarding any accommodation needs that the school is experiencing.
Danu Community Special School was established in 2019 to meet emerging requirements for special school places in the area. It is also under the patronage of Dublin Dun Laoghaire ETB and is currently located in interim accommodation at Hansfield Educate Together Secondary School. It is due to relocate to surplus accommodation within Rath Dara Community College. This approach has been agreed with Dublin Dun Laoghaire ETB, the patron body of both Rath Dara CC and Danu Community Special School.
This accommodation is currently being modified to cater for Danu's specific needs. This modification also includes improvement works to Rath Dara Community College and includes the relocation of a Home Economics room and Science Lab, sub-division of rooms, upgrading existing doors and Fire Alarm System. These works are advancing and are expected to be complete by the end of the year.
I can assure the Deputy that my Department is working with Dublin Dun Laoghaire ETB to ensure that there is sufficient, appropriate accommodation to meet the needs of both schools on the site. Additionally, my Department is currently considering the long-term accommodation needs of the schools to ensure that the optimum solution for both schools is identified.
