Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 November 2014
184. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the total number of temporary and permanent school place accommodation requirements currently on hand in her Department as set out in correspondence with the various school authorities at primary and second level; if she will meet all or most of these requirements in early date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45726/14]
View answerMy Department has approximately 1,000 applications on hand from primary and post primary schools for major capital works.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Five Year Construction Plan that was announced in March 2012 as part of the 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.
In addition, my Department also considers applications on an ongoing basis from individual schools for devolved funding to meet an immediate accommodation requirement because of increased enrolments and where an additional teacher is being appointed.
My Department will continue to analyse demographic trends and to monitor enrolments in all areas, to determine the level of additional school provision which may be required into the future and to ensure that this is provided in a timely manner.
The current status of all projects on the school building programme may be viewed on my Department's website at www.education.ie and this is updated regularly throughout the year.
