A Stormont department's "failure to reply" to concerns over road safety at a special school has been labelled an "absolute joke".
Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council (LCCC) has this week unanimously agreed to seek answers from Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins (Sinn Fein) over the three month stonewalling.
The lack of correspondence over Brookfield School in Lagan Valley has now left a councillor "exasperated" over repeated attempts to help young pupils with complex needs.
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Castlereagh East DUP rep, John Laverty said: "Sorry to have to stand again on this matter, but on the 18 November (2024), we asked officials from DfI to present to us. There were a number of queries, but mine specifically was related to Brookfield Special School and they had a number of concerns.
"I was assured they (DfI) would take the matter seriously and address those concerns. As we sit here this evening I have yet to receive a reply. I do want to acknowledge the assistance by our own director for reaching out, but again there has been a failure to receive a reply.
"I am at a point where I am totally exasperated with this matter and I am seeking approval from everyone to ask DfI to present themselves into the chamber, to explain reasons for no reply and to reassure us that these matters will not happen again. It is just totally unacceptable."
The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) spoke to Cllr Laverty outside of chambers where he identified his concerns over "treacherous rural road conditions" in winter with the school "not included in DfI's road gritting programme".
The elected rep added that "emergency services would struggle to access the school" with children who attend being "some of the most vulnerable in our society".
Brookfield School with almost 160 pupils, located just outside Lisburn, recently engaged in planning to create five new sensory areas to support children aged 3-11 and their growing needs.
The areas will include spaces for the children to regulate their emotions, featuring padded areas to lie down and relax, bubble tubes, lights, textured areas, and mobile sensory trolleys.
Downshire West DUP cllr Caleb McCready added: "I think it is an absolute joke. We had a meeting in November with DfI with all councillors requesting a reply from queries. Then brought to full council last month. We asked our chief executive to request a reply, yet it hasn't been done for him either.
"And we are still waiting. I would ask that we also write to the Minister in charge of DfI and to make sure there is some sort of clarity on what is going on here."
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