Minister for Disabilities accepts invitation to Cootehill's Holy Family School

Minister Finian McGrath was invited to witness in person the conditions pupils are being taught in at the under-resourced school, by local Fianna Fáil TD Niamh Smyth. Yesterday he confirmed to Deputy Smyth that he would attend the school on September 25.
“I am delighted to have secured this visit by the Minister with responsibilities Finian McGrath so he can see first-hand the unacceptable conditions staff and pupils are expected to work in. I have repeatedly expressed my frustration with the lack of progress by the Department of Education on the Holy Family School building project.  
“More than two years after funding for the works was approved, we are still waiting on the design team to complete its pre-qualification assessment.  According to Minister Bruton, this process will be completed ‘shortly’ but he failed to give any concrete deadlines,” she said.
The special national school caters for around 160 students aged four to 18 from Cavan and Monaghan. Holy Family's pupils live with severe/profound learning disabilities, moderate/multiple learning disabilities and for pupils with autism.
Deputy Smyth outlined that in 2015 the Department for Education and Skills gave the Holy Family School full approval for funding under the school building programme 2016–2021.
"The long-awaited news, almost 30years coming, was delivered by Minister Jan O'Sullivan at noon on Tuesday, November 17 2015, after proposals to alter previous plans and increase capacity to a 25-room school were approved by the Department. The students and their parents breathed a sigh of relief - that finally this day had come," lamented Deputy Smyth. “However, we are still no further on!
“Classes are being taught in converted storages spaces. The building is cramped and dilapidated and is in urgent need of an overhaul.
“I am extremely frustrated by the lack of progress on this project and have been raising it with Minister Bruton over the past number of months. His latest reply is less than encouraging.
“If the current pace of the project is maintained, it will be another two years before the new building is anywhere near the construction phase. This is not good enough,” she said.