Construction to finally resume on special school in Laois
Saplings Special School has been left unfinished since 2023
Construction is finally due to begin on the new Saplings Special School in Graiguecullen which has been at a standstill for over two years.
Laois TD Brian Stanley has confirmed that construction on the school will recommence within two weeks.
Construction had started in March 2023, however it quickly came to halt in late 2023 due to a lack of funding.
Funding for the construction of the school was originally provided through the Irish Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP), which gave 'high net-worth individuals' from non-EEA countries Irish residency, if they invested a minimum of €1 million euro to Irish projects for at least three years.
When this programme closed, funds ran dry for the construction of the school.
The half-built school has laid untouched since then at the site in Fruithill. Students, teachers and SNAs are currently operating from prefabs in Killeshin.
Deputy Stanley said that additional funding has now been secured to advance the next phase of the building.
He noted: “Additional funding on top of this may be required to fully complete construction and I have raised this a number of times with the two Education Ministers and told them that the Government cannot absolve it of responsibility.”
The Laois TD added: “The children with special needs who are currently accommodated in temporary prefabs at Killeshin are entitled to the same educational environment as every other child.
“I looked forward to progress being made and will continue to prioritise the new building for Saplings.”
Funded by the Local Democracy Programme