Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 January 2013
319. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department has plans to purchase prefabricated classrooms for a school (details supplied) in County Donegal; his views on whether this would provide appropriate accommodation for new entrants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3990/13]
View answer320. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 296 of 27 November 2012, if he has considered the baptismal records of the parish in question which suggest that the school's overall enrolment figures may increase by one hundred by 2016; the plans he has to facilitate such an increase in enrolment in view of the fact that the school is not currently on the Capital Building Programme and is struggling to cater for its present enrolment with 150 students being taught in prefabricated classrooms. [3991/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 319 and 320 together.
As the Deputy is aware, a new school is proposed to meet the long term accommodation needs of the school in question. A site has been acquired for this purpose and a building project will be progressed through the various stages of the architectural planning process in the context of the available funding. Pending the provision of a new school building, it is open to the school authorities to submit an application for additional accommodation should the current accommodation be insufficient to cater for increasing enrolments. An application form is available on my Department's website www.education.ie. My Department is currently liaising with the school authorities regarding the potential purchase of existing prefabricated classrooms.
