97. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education and Youth when the special school in Carraig na bFhear will open. [52757/26]

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is the statutory body responsible for the provision of special education and allocating supports for students with special educational needs.

North Cork Community Special school is one of five new special schools that were established for the 2025/26 school year. This school serves the North City area of Cork City and opened in surplus accommodation in the Department owned school building, Gaelscoil de hÍde, Fermoy.

A former primary school property in Carraig na bFhearr is currently being repurposed to provide permanent accommodation for the school.

The repurposing project is being delivered under the Department’s SEN Reconfiguration and Modular Accommodation programme which facilitates the progression of the project as quickly as possible. The programme involves the use of Project Management supports which is designed to enable the accommodation to be provided in a timely manner and help ease the administrative workload for school authorities in relation to the management and delivery of projects. This is a collaborative process between the Project Manager, School Authority and the Department.

The repurposing works are nearing completion and it is intended that the building will be ready for occupation in the coming weeks.