Children on waiting list will miss out at new Saplings school - Troy
The new multi-million euro Saplings school building on Lynn Road will not be able to cater for all of the children currently on its waiting list, according to Deputy Robert Troy.
The specialist two-storey, six-classroom facility, which is set to go to tender in the coming weeks, will cater for five additional children – but Deputy Troy says that there are currently 13 children on the waiting list.
He says that it is “utterly unbelievable” that the new state of the art facility will not meet the present demand, even before construction has started.
“I have been contacted by a number of concerned parents who have been informed that there will not be capacity at the new facility to accommodate their children.
“I found this utterly unbelievable when I was contacted first as I did not think that such a large amount of money would be spent by the department on a facility which could not even deal with present demand, never mind catering for an increased demand in the future.
“From information that I have gathered, it appears that the new facility will only cater for five additional pupils while there are, I believe, currently 13 pupils on a waiting list for the school.”
Following years of campaigning, the news that funding had been secured for a new home for Saplings was warmly welcomed as it will be a significant upgrade on the school’s current home on Austin Friars Street.
Deputy Troy recently submitted a parliamentary question asking the Minister for Education and Skills Richard Bruton why the new facility, which is being built with a view to increasing capacity, will not be able to cater for all of the children currently on the waiting list.
Minister’s reply
The minister replied that “the National Council for Special Education has advised that the additional placements this project will deliver will meet the projected need for students with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) and complex needs requiring a special school placement in the area”.
Criticising Minister Bruton for refusing to adequately answer questions regarding the capacity of the new Saplings building, Deputy Troy said the capacity shortfall should be looked at as soon as possible.
“While I welcome the development of Saplings and congratulate the board of management, parents, and indeed Westmeath County Council, on securing funding for this new facility, I find It very infuriating that the minister continually refuses to provide hard figures in his responses as to the additional number of students who will be accommodated at the new facility.
“I know all of the stakeholders I have mentioned will be extremely anxious that Saplings is able to provide for the educational needs of as many children as possible into the future and I would strongly urge our government representatives to pressure the minister into providing the answers which would clarify the matter,” concluded Deputy Troy.