The Department of Education regards the current re-purposed school building in Castleblayney as the permanent location for Monaghan Community Special School.
According to correspondence local TD Cathy Bennett shared with Northern Sound, the permanent capacity at the school will be expanded through a proposed modular accommodation project.
The letter indicated that the permanent capacity at the school will be expanded through the provision of the proposed modular accommodation project.
The Department said that subject to planning permission, the target is to have the accommodation operational to offer additional places for the 2027/2028 school year.
The Department of Education revealed the news in a letter to the Committee of Public Accounts, of which Deputy Bennett is a member.
In the letter, it was revealed that the repurposing work undertaken at the school has cost circa €3 million.
The Department outlined that the funding has not been expended on temporary cabins on the school site.
Last week, a spokesperson for the Department of Education told Northern Sound that the department believes the property at Castleblayney provides a good location for expanding capacity, with a permanent modular extension at the school.
The department is engaging with the patron, Cavan and Monaghan ETB, in this regard.
The spokesperson said the level of accommodation to be provided is indicative only at this stage and will be subject to detailed design by the design team.
Meanwhile, Deputy Bennett has criticised the decision.
In a statement to Northern Sound, she called for clarity
She said that it isn’t clear is the total potential capacity this site can facilitate.
Deputy Bennett said she has questions as to what analysis was done to illustrate that the site can meet those parameters.
She said: "This goes back to the parents who campaigned for years for a special school in Monaghan. I'm proud to say Sinn Féin did stand locally with the campaigners, to convince the government that the school was needed.
"This is news to me now, that the government think the interim site will be the permanent site. Where did they decide on this issue? How did they decide that the interim school - which is great news and welcome - but for future expansion, are they going to build modular units? That's not great news," Deputy Bennett added.
