Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 February 2014
276. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans for increasing the number of places at the Gaelsoileanna in Clondalkin to meet the growing demand for these places from local families. [9129/14]
View answer278. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans for improving the facilities at the Gaelscoileanna in Clondalkin specifically by providing funding for schools to provide classrooms for their pupils in place of the existing prefabs. [9131/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 276 and 278 together.
As the Deputy is aware, my Department's over-riding objective is to ensure that every child has access to a physical school place and that our school system is in a position to cope with increasing pupil numbers. To ensure that this is achieved, the delivery of major school projects to meet significant demographic demands nationally will be the main focus for capital investment in schools in the coming years. The 5 Year Construction Plan that I announced in March 2012 is focused on meeting this demand.
I can confirm that the two gaelscoileanna in Clondalkin have submitted applications for capital funding for new schools. The current status of all projects on the school building programme, including the schools referred to by the Deputy, may be viewed on my Department's website at www.education.ie and this is updated regularly throughout the year. I am pleased to advise the Deputy that my Department recently approved funding to one of the gaelscoileanna to build 2 mainstream classrooms. Pending the provision of improved accommodation, it is open to the school authorities to submit an application for additional mainstream accommodation should the current accommodation be insufficient to cater for any increasing enrolments.
