New classrooms for Stepping Stones

Two additional classrooms for Stepping Stones Special School have approved by the Department of Education to assist with its interim accommodation needs.

The school management is to provide the Department details of land which it proposes to lease for these classrooms.

The Department is also working with the school relating to the provision of an additional space for therapy purposes and is exploring all available options with a view to providing permanent accommodation for the school as quickly as possible. The Department is making arrangements with the school to meet during next week.

Minister Byrne Thomas Byrne welcomed the news and said that it was positive step in the right direction and that he will continue to work for the school community in achieving permanent accommodation for Stepping Stones.

The news follows a plea last week by principal Dolores Cullinane that Minster for Education, Norma Foley, urgently address a litany of problems from “sinking” floors to rats and mice coming through the walls and says the Kilcloon school's pleas for help have been ignored for years.

Ms Cullinane has said in the past that the situation had reached crisis levels with staff and parents alike at breaking point.

Stepping Stones Special School is a special school for students with autism and complex needs and comprises two prefabs - the larger one dating back to 2005 is divided into five classrooms. It hosts 30 children with autism and complex needs, five teachers and 26 special needs assistants. The current school building was provided in 2005 as a short term measure.