Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 April 2014
86. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will give consideration to the provision of general purpose room at a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15912/14]
View answerI can confirm that the school in question applied to my Department for major capital funding for the replacement of prefabricated accommodation with a permanent structure and also for the provision of a General Purpose Room. I am pleased to advise the Deputy that funding for the replacement of the prefabricated accommodation was provided under the 2012 Prefab Replacement Scheme. In view of the constraints imposed by the need to prioritise available funding for the provision of essential classroom accommodation, my Department is not in a position to provide funding for a General Purpose Room at this time.
The Deputy will be aware that the over-riding objective of Education capital expenditure is to meet the demographic challenge facing the education system, whereby total pupil enrolment in both primary and post-primary schools is expected to grow by around 107,000 additional pupils between 2012 and 2019 - over 70,000 at primary level and over 35,000 at post primary - and will continue to rise at post primary level to the year 2026, at least. The five year construction plan prioritises major school projects in areas where future significant demographic changes have been identified. My Department's over riding objective is to prioritise available funding to meet this demographic demand and to provide essential classroom accommodation where additional teachers are approved. Funding for General Purpose Rooms can only be considered within this context.
