She was responding to a question he asked her in the Seanad this morning seeking clarification as to when the department will make funding available to provide extra resources and classrooms in the school in Carraroe, in Co. Galway, so that they can provide a full curriculum to the students there.
He says:
'It is positive that the Minister encouraged the school to apply for support to upgrade the centre which is prepared already for adaptation as classroom space and to make it accessible for all, with a lift and other infrastructure.
'I am also satisfied that he Minister clarified that it should not be necessary to go through the capital funding programme, as this is a much more time consuming process.
'These children should be given extra support in light of the extremely challenging health issues they have. They have a superb support staff and parents who are extremely committed to their development and the department therefore has a duty to give them every help they can. It would be a very positive outcome if the department were to fund the necessary works at Tigh Nan Dooley'.
'We will hold the government to account to ensure that this support is turned into concrete developments and that the extra space is adapted as soon as possible'.
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Tá fáilte curtha ag an Seanadóir Trevor Ó Clochartaigh roimh thacaíocht an Aire Oideachais & Scileanna, Jan O'Sullivan, do Scoil Speisialta Tigh Nan Dooley i gConamara.
Bhí sí ag freagairt ceiste a chuir sé uirthi sa Seanad ar maidin ag lorg soiléiriú cén uair atá an roinn chun maoiniú breise a sholáthar chun áiseanna agus seomraí breise a chur ar fáil ag an scoil ar an gCeathrú Rua, i gCo. na Gaillimhe, le gur féidir leo an curaclam iomlán a chur ar fáil do na daltaí ansin.
Deir sé:
'Is maith an rud gur mhol an tAire don scoil iarratas a dhéanamh chun an t-ionad atá réitithe a fheistiú amach mar sheomraí ranga agus rochtain do gach duine a chuir ann, ardaitheoir is eile.
'Tá mé sásta freisin gur shoiléirigh sí nach tríd an gciste caipitil is gá an t-iarratas a chuir, mar is proiséas fadálach go leor atá ansin.
'Ba chóir go mbeadh na páistí seo ag fáil tacaíocht faoi leith chun fanacht sa chóras oideachais mar gheall ar na dúshláin bhreise sláinte atá acu. Tá foireann den scoth acu agus tuismitheoirí atá thar a bheith tiomanta dá gcás agus tá dualgas ar an roinn chuile dheis a chur ar fáil dóibh. Céim chun cinn a bheadh ann an obair bhreise seo a dhéanamh ag Tigh Nan Dooley'.
'Coinneoidh muid an brú ar an rialtas anois an tacaíocht seo a iompu isteach ina gníomh phraiticúil agus an spás breise a athchóiriú'.