1053. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Education and Youth if alternative school places have been sought for children who were offered autism class placements at a school (details supplied) and now have been left with no school place for September; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41431/25]

1081. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update including a timeline for the new ASD classes for a school (details supplied). [41729/25]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1053 and 1081 together.

This government is fully committed to supporting children with special educational needs to fulfil their full potential and the Programme for Government makes a number of commitments to deliver on this objective.

Reconfiguration works to provide two special education classrooms, and two mainstream classrooms is in delivery for the school referred to by the Deputy.  The use of the parish hall is part of this brief.

A full statutory application for change of use was required to facilitate the use of the parish hall as part of the project. A decision to grant planning permission for change of use of the Parish Hall was received in mid-June. I can confirm that works have now commenced on the Parish Hall with a tentative projected timeline for completion of works by the end of Q3 or early in Q4.

The department is working to ensure the expedited delivery of all required accommodation solutions for special classes, and it is expected that the required accommodation will be in place for the start of the school year in the vast majority of cases.  Where this is not the case, the NCSE and department will support the school to put appropriate contingency arrangements in place to ensure that these classes can open while permanent accommodation is being provided.