St. Jarlath’s College in Tuam has been allocated funding for a new special classroom for pupils with disabilities.
Galway East TD Seán Canney said the Department of Education has confirmed to him the funding for a Multiple Disabilities Classroom.
Deputy Canney said that ensuring that children with a disability have full and equal access to education is something that must be tackled in every school.
“I welcome this funding for Tuam and the facility when complete will facilitate students with disabilities to access education so that they can compete at the highest level in society.”
The funding for the new classroom, which is currently in its design stage, comes from the Department of Education’s Additional Accommodation Scheme 2018.
The purpose of this scheme is to provide essential classroom space to cater for each year’s enrollment where that cannot be met by the school’s existing accommodation.
Where the need for extra space is expected to last less than three years, a school may be given approval to rent additional room for this period.
Where more permanent accommodation is needed, as in this case where St. Jarlath’s needs appropriate facilities for pupils with a disability, grant aid will be provided.
Schools can get a grant to purchase a prefab structure, or build a permanent classroom.
St. Jarlath’s College on Bishop street in Tuam is a Catholic Secondary School, amalgamated with the former St. Patrick’s College in 2009.
