Brian Stanley presses for ASD classroom at St Fintan School
Brian Stanley raised concerns about delays to an extension project at St Fintan School in Mount Trott, urging the Minister of Education to act to deliver an ASD classroom, a sentry room and a general purpose hall. He said the project, first committed over seven years ago and later moved to a devolved, school-led model, remains at stage 1A while 123 pupils in two ASD classes face further pressure.
Immediate appeal
Brian Stanley asked whether the Minister of Education would be implored to move on the St Fintan School project in Mount Trott, highlighting the school's urgent need for an ASD classroom, a sentry room and a general purpose hall.
Project history and current status
The deputy outlined the project's lengthy history: it was first committed over seven years ago, at one stage was to be delivered by the Department of Education, then proposed under a framework agreement as a modular build, and in recent years was changed to a devolved project led by the school. He reported the extension remains at stage 1A.
Impact on pupils and staff
The school has 123 pupils in two ASD classes. Staff have been subdividing existing space to cope, but the current accommodation is insufficient and is expected to come under further pressure in September; the principal and staff are very concerned about the delay.
Government response
A respondent thanked the deputy for raising the issue, said they could not deal with every single school extension but would raise the case with the Minister of Education, and confirmed there is record funding again for school buildings this year.
Funding focus and next steps
The respondent noted a particular focus in current funding on school extensions for special classes and special education and said they would see what could be done in this case, indicating the issue would be brought to the Minister's attention.
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The programme for government commits to the timely delivery of school projects, unquote. One school, my former national school, St Fintan School in Mount Trott, has been waiting for a badly needed ASD classroom, a sentry room and a general purpose hall. The school and the staff are doing everything possible to utilise the existing space that they have, you know, subdividing rooms, etc., but the 123 pupils in the two ASD classes do not have enough and they are going to be under further pressure in September. The extension works that was to be delivered by the Department of Education, which this was first committed to back over seven years ago, at one stage it was to be delivered by the Department, then by the framework agreement, you know, put in a modular one under that framework agreement that you are familiar with and I am. However, this was then changed in more recent years to a devolved project and it was given to the school to lead. It is long past the time for this project to be moved on. The principal and staff are very concerned about it, but the project, and I checked again the other day, is only at stage 1A. Will you commit to imploring on the Minister of Education to please move on St Fintan School in Mount Trott? Well, first of all, thank you, Deputy, for your raising the issue. I obviously can't deal with every single school extension and so on, but I will raise this with the Minister. There is record funding again for school buildings this year, and with a particular focus on school extensions for special classes and special education. So I will see what we can do in this case. that was followed by.
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