Dan Boyle
Question:1438 Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will provide information regarding the accommodation situation at a school (details supplied) in County Cork. [30133/06]
View answerWednesday, 27 September 2006
Questions (1364, 1365)
Written answers
An application for capital funding towards the provision of an extension at the school has been received from the school referred to by the Deputy.
An assessment of projected enrolment trends, demographic trends and housing developments in the area was carried out in order to inform the determination of the long term projected staffing on which the school's accommodation needs will be based. This has been finalised and notified to the school authorities.
The building project required to deliver the new school building is being considered in the context of the School Building and Modernisation Programme 2006-2010.
Dan Boyle
Question:1439 Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for Education and Science the number and location of prefabricated buildings in Cork City and County schools; and the number of such buildings that are currently leased. [30135/06]
View answerThe information sought by the Deputy is not readily available in my Department. However, if the Deputy wishes to request details on a specific school, my officials will provide the required information.
The demand for additional accommodation in schools has risen significantly over the last number of years mainly due to the rapid expansion in teacher numbers particularly in the area of special needs, the growth in the school-going population in rapidly developing areas and the demands to cater for diversity through the recognition of new Gaelscoileanna and Educate Together schools.
The focus within my Department is to empower schools to resolve their accommodation needs, wherever possible, by way of permanent accommodation. In order to reduce the amount of temporary/prefabricated accommodation at primary level and to upgrade existing facilities, two new initiatives, the Permanent Accommodation Initiative and the Small School Initiative, were launched in 2003 on a pilot basis. The purpose of these initiatives was to allow primary schools to undertake a permanent solution to their classroom accommodation needs and to achieve the best value for money as opposed to the provision of temporary accommodation.
The feedback has in general been very positive, the number of schools participating has increased year on year and many schools are anxious to be included. In order to maintain this momentum I invited 210 schools to participate in these schemes in 2006. This brings to 520 the number of schools invited to participate since 2003.
As a result of these schemes the amount spent on the purchase of prefabricated buildings in has been significantly reduced.