Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 October 2023
252. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education to confirm that her Department has received correspondence from a school (details supplied); if the points outlined will be taken under consideration; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45152/23]
View answerI am pleased to advise that approval under the Additional School Accommodation scheme issued to the school in question for the provision of a Special Education Needs (SEN) class.
The project is being delivered under the Department’s Devolved SEN 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 Sheanan Newman Construction Consultants (KSN) has been appointed, from the Department’s Framework, to design and tender the project. This consultant will lead the project through the various stages of planning process and construction.
My Department is fully aware of the urgency in respect of this project and will continue working closely with the school authority and its project manager in order to ensure this project is completed as soon as possible. Regarding the automated opening doors and the covering for the play area there is no provision for these in the the Department's technical design guidelines for SEN design. I wish to advise in relation to the ramp access, that the Emergency Works Section within my Department is open to the school should they wish to apply for same. The Emergency Works Scheme ensures the availability of funding for urgent works to schools that need resources as a result of an emergency situation, or to cater for special needs pupils who have enrolled.
The School Authority has devolved responsibility for delivery of this project.
