Scoil Aonghusa expansion in Cashel
Deputy Murphy asked about the final contract approval and a missing letter of acceptance for the expansion of Scoil Aonghusa special school. The Tánaiste welcomed the visiting school group and said he would continue to work with the Minister on the matter.
I welcome students from my alma mater, CBS High School Clonmel, their teacher Claire Bell and SNA Michael Power.
The expansion of Scoil Aonghusa special school in Cashel has been a key priority of mine since I was first elected. I thank the Tánaiste and the previous Minister for education, Deputy McEntee, for their support. This centre of educational excellence caters for the complex needs of 150 students. The tender process is complete and the contract has been approved. There is an outstanding issue around a letter of acceptance. Will the Tánaiste engage with the current Minister for education so that this letter of acceptance can be issued to allow us to begin the detailed design planning phase and, in parallel, the construction phase, as this is a modular unit expansion?
Comment on this
I thank Deputy Murphy and join him in welcoming CBS High School Clonmel. I met a very busy Deputy Murphy - he is very busy; he works hard - last night coming back into the Dáil with Capri-Suns and Hula Hoops and the likes in anticipation of the students' visit today. I hope they will get an opportunity to enjoy that hospitality. He was genuinely looking forward to having them here today. They are welcome to the Dáil and the Oireachtas.
I thank Deputy Murphy for raising this important issue. I know he is in ongoing contact with parents and teachers at Scoil Aonghusa in Cashel and that he worked with the then Minister for education, Deputy McEntee, on it previously. This will deliver 14 special education classrooms of ancillary accommodation. The selected modular provider has recently submitted the required documentation to the Department to enter into that contract. The documentation is being reviewed by the Department and was shared with the school this week with a view to the project proceeding as quickly as possible. It is expected that designs will be ready for local authority review in the quarter 2 of the year. However, I will certainly speak directly to the Minister, Deputy Naughton. We want this to be delivered as quickly as possible. I know how important it is to special education in the Deputy's area.