School Accommodation

Wednesday, 27 June 2012

Questions (13)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

13. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he is satisfied that he can continue to meet the school building programme requirements at primary and secondary level throughout the country notwithstanding the present economic situation and keeping in mind the need to ensure that pupils, students and staff are adequately accommodated with the highest quality of facilities and utilising the most modern methods in their provision; if he expects to discontinue the use of temporary or pre-fabricated classrooms throughout the system in the foreseeable future in view of the availability of resources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30937/12]

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Oral answers (3 contributions)

Deputy Ruairí Quinn

My priority is to ensure there is sufficient school accommodation to meet projected pupil enrolment increases into the future. The five-year plan, which I announced in March as part of a €2 billion capital investment programme, outlines the major school projects that will commence construction over the duration of the plan. These have been prioritised on the basis of meeting significant demographic needs.

In addition, my Department will consider applications by schools for funding for additional classrooms, which schools may provide on a permanent basis, where an immediate enrolment need is arising.

Under the recent biggest initiative ever undertaken to replace rented prefabs in schools, almost 200 schools have been offered grants to build permanent accommodation this year, that is, over a third of all schools which currently have rented prefabs. Over €40 million has been allocated for this initiative. In light of the need to prioritise available funding to meet demographic demand, it is not possible to say whether this scheme will be extended.

Deputy Brendan Smith

The Minister is familiar with a case in my own constituency - St. Mary's National School in Virginia, County Cavan - where I am anxious to have 16 prefabs displaced. We have done further analysis on the projected enrolment trends and would like to advance that project.

Deputy Ruairí Quinn

Okay.