Special school in Laois built in 2022 needs more classrooms says local TD

LOCAL Republican TD Brian Stanley called for additional classroom to be provided at Saint Francis Special School in Portlaoise ahead of the new school term in August/September.

Saint Francis Special School provides education to children and young people aged between five and 18 with mild or moderate general learning disabilities, some of whom have co-occurring autism, sensory or medical needs.

Deputy Stanley raised the issue in the Dáil when he spoke of the chronic shortage of classrooms.

The school was officially opened just three years ago in June 2022 and already there is a huge waiting list for enrolment.

Speaking in the Dáil Deputy Stanley said that the demand for places is such: “There will be only nine pupils leaving this year, but there’s 45 pupils coming in and that number is increasing.” 

He said there is a chronic shortage of space and an urgent need for extra classrooms.

The Portlaoise based TD said: “While they are granted four extra additional classrooms which are welcome, these will take time. However, there’s an immediate problem in relation to August and September.

“In fairness to the school management, and staff they have pointed out a solution and that is for the department to provide two temporary prefabs on the site and there is plenty of space on the site for them. The department would say otherwise.” 

He pointed out to the Taoiseach the urgency of the situation and asked him to take it up with the Department of Education and the Minister, “and to take this seriously, to move this project on because we can’t wait any longer for it.” 

“It’s really important that Saint Francis Special School has the accommodation come the end of August and the start September for to cater for the new pupils coming in,” said Deputy Stanley.