Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 January 2012
243 Deputy Maureen O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will include a school (details supplied) in Dublin 7 on the schools building programme this year, particularly in view of the fact that the school has been in unsuitable and inadequate premises for more than 16 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5591/12]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is currently in the process of acquiring a site for the school to which she refers. An application for planning permission forms part of the site acquisition process. A draft design for the school was discussed with the school authority and the design is currently being revised in light of those discussions.
The Government's Medium Term Infrastructure and Capital Investment Framework, which was published on 10th November 2011, sets out the demographic challenge facing the education system in the coming years.
In view of the need to ensure that every child has access to a school place, the delivery of major school projects and smaller projects devolved to schools to meet the demographic demands nationally as well as the demands in the area to which the Deputy refers, will be the main focus for capital investment in schools in the coming years.
I have previously committed to publishing shortly a five year plan outlining the school building projects to be constructed in that time.
