Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 September 2006
1327 Mr. N. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Education and Science her views on approving funding for an extension to a primary school (details supplied) in County Cork, which has had to hire portacabins and, owing to a substantial pupil number increase, will have to do so again in 2006. [29235/06]
View answer1328 Mr. N. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason a primary school (details supplied) in County Cork was refused a capital grant in 2005/2006. [29236/06]
View answer1329 Mr. N. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding an application for a capital grant in respect of a primary school (details supplied) in County Cork. [29237/06]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1327 to 1329, inclusive, together.
In order to address the short term accommodation needs of the school referred to by the Deputy, my Department gave approval to the school authority to rent a portakabin for use as a mainstream classroom earlier this year. My Department is also in receipt of an application for capital funding towards the provision of a permanent extension at the school.
An assessment of projected enrolments, demographic trends and housing developments in the area is under way in order to inform the determination of the long term projected staffing on which the school's long term accommodation needs will be based. When this assessment is completed a decision will then be taken on how best to provide the required accommodation. The project will be then considered in the context of the School Building and Modernisation Programme 2006-2010.
