Fine Gael Dun Laoghaire Deputy, Mary Mitchell O’Connor, has said the designation of Marino School in Bray as a Community Special School will provide long-term educational certainty for children in the area with Special Educational Needs (SEN).

“The reclassification of Marino School as a Community Special School will open up enrolments to a wider student profile and will offer a broader range of curricular programmes at both Primary and Post Primary level. Before this move, Marino School only catered for students with learning difficulties up until sixth class, leaving them with limited options thereafter as there are only two other classes in the Dun Laoghaire area that cater for students with learning difficulties beyond sixth year.

“This will provide the students who currently attend the school, and those looking to enrol, with the security of knowing that they can continue with their studies at the school for as long as they see fit. It now puts children who have special educational needs in the area on a more equal footing to other children of their age who, following the completion of sixth class, have a range of options of second level schools to attend.

“This news will be welcomed by the parents of the children attending Marino School, as they will be safe in the knowledge that the educational needs of their children, irrespective of what level they wish to attain, will now be met.

“Our children with special educational needs deserve the same opportunities in life as those without. Courses will now be available at primary and secondary level, up to Leaving Certificate, which is facilitated through Links Programmes, and to FETAC level for the first time. I am delighted with this development and wish the students, their parents and the staff all the very best for the future.”