845. Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the status of plans to deliver an ASD unit at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42407/26]

I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has no current record of receiving an application for additional accommodation from the school in question. The school was approved capital funding under my Department's Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme in 2021 to provide one mainstream classroom and in 2017 to provide one mainstream classroom and one universal access toilet.

The purpose of the ASA scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream classroom and accommodation for students with special educational needs is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year, where the need cannot be met by the school’s existing accommodation or at available accommodation at other schools in the area.

It is open to the school authority to make an application for additional accommodation through the 'Additional School Accommodation scheme (ASA)' which is available at www.education.ie.