Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 November 2014
921. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which permanent classroom structures and ancillary facilities are currently available and proposed at a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; the degree to which dialogue continues to take place with the school authorities in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41937/14]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the school to which he refers has made an application to my Department for large scale capital funding. The Five Year Construction Plan that was announced in March 2012 as part of my Department's €2 billion capital investment programme, outlines the major school projects that are scheduled to commence construction over the duration of the Plan. These have been prioritised on the basis of meeting significant demographic needs. My Department will also consider applications from individual schools for devolved funding to meet an immediate accommodation requirement because of increased enrolments and where an additional teacher is being appointed. The Deputy may be aware that enrolments at the school in question have declined over the past number of years. In view of the priority to provide essential classroom accommodation in areas of demographic growth, it is not possible at this stage to indicate when a major project at the school might progress. The current status of all projects on the school building programme, including the school in question, may be viewed on my Department's website at www.education.ie.
