Plans for a new permanent school for Ábalta Special School in Galway have been approved.

The special school, currently based at Parkmore East Business Park in Galway, will be integrated into a campus project with Galway Educate Together Secondary School. This joint initiative will be located at a site in Gauraun South, Oranmore, County Galway. Such campus solutions are ideal for improving integration opportunities. The new Ábalta Special School will feature expanded accommodation, enabling it to accommodate a total of 26 classes.

The Department of Education has designated a Project Manager for this initiative, which is part of the ADAPT Programme, a bundle of projects aimed at Accelerated Delivery of Architectural Planning and Tendering. This programme uses a professional external Project Manager to coordinate and lead the Design Team, ensuring optimal timeframes are achieved during the architectural planning stages.

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Minister for Education, Norma Foley TD said: "As Minister for Education, it gives me great pleasure today to announce approval for a new school for children and young people with special educational needs in Galway. The expansion of Ábalta Special School will enable it to provide an excellent teaching and learning environment and much broader range of opportunities to many more pupils and their families. This is a further sign of this government’s commitment to delivering an education system that is inclusive, open and welcoming to everyone.

"I would like to thank the entire community of Ábalta Special School and everyone involve in achieving this milestone moment and look forward now to the project developing at pace. The Department will be engaging closely with the school in this regard."

Oranmore native and Minister of State for Special Education and Inclusion Hildegarde Naughton TD said:

"As Minister for Special Education and Inclusion, I’m pleased that we are in a position today to announce approval for a new permanent school building for Ábalta Special School. This marks a significant step forward for the pupils, families and school community who will benefit for many years to come. Budget 2024 dedicates in excess of €2.7 billion to providing supports for children with special educational needs. Today is a resounding demonstration of the difference that funding is making."