Efforts are ongoing to secure places for more children at Little Angels Special School in Letterkenny in September, Donegal Minister of State, Charlie McConalogue has confirmed.
An architectural assessment of the school has taken place with a view to finding more space. Options include keeping the former school building open for classes.
Minister McConalogue said: “Work is continuing with the Minister for Special Education, Michael Moynihan, with a view to examining options to secure school places for the new school year. I am very aware of the challenges where there are additional needs and the importance of the stability of a school place in a child’s life.
The Minister of State with responsibility for Sport and Postal Policy commented that he is aware the issue is a “source of stress” for the nine families who have applied for place at Little Angels in September, and who have not received a place because of the lack of capacity.
“This is something I have been working with other public representatives on, and in particular, with Minister Moynihan, with the aim of securing places for the children in September,” Minister McConalogue added.
“I have been working closely with the school and Minister Moynihan to progress this issue as quickly as possible. Two weeks ago, Minister Moynihan ensured that an architect from his department visited the school and fully assessed the potential options for additional places in September.
“Minister Moynihan assured me this week that his officials are continuing to work on this to finalise details of the options for decision by him.”
Minister McConalogue said he is confident that there are options available.
“I do believe there are options available, given that in the next few months the school will be relocating to the new Little Angels School. This new school will provide state-of-the-art accommodation for pupils. However, we have seen an increase in the demand for special education at Little Angels in recent years. In 2018, the school had 17 teachers and 73 pupils. Today, it has 23 teachers and 133 pupils,” Minister McConalogue said.
“The move to the new school means the current accommodation will become available and I know this is one of the options being explored by the Department of Education. Government is very aware of the urgency in giving certainty to parents in relation to school places for their children for this coming September,” he added.
“I will continue to work with Minister Moynihan and other local public representatives to secure places for the children planning to start at Little Angels in September. I am confident that a positive outcome can be found, and I am working to make sure that a decision is finalised as soon as possible.”
The parents impacted by the capacity issues are planning to join an overnight protest at the gates of Dáil Éireann next Wednesday.
Families in the “Don’t Forget Our Little Angels” campaign will camp outside the Dáil for World Autism Day with other parents from around the country protesting the lack of suitable special educational needs school places.
