Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 November 2015
1001. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to address the substandard accommodation at a school (details supplied) in County Cork; if her Department intends to consolidate the infant school on the same site as the remainder of the school; the progress being made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38252/15]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware the school, referred to, is situated on a split campus with the senior school sharing a campus with another primary school.
While the school, in question, was approved funding in 2012 under the Prefab Replacement Scheme, the school authorities submitted an alternative proposal to provide all of the proposed replacement accommodation on the senior school's site, rationalising provision from 3 sites to 1 site. My Department advised the school authorities that it had no objection to their proposal and indicated that it was prepared to also include an ASD/Special Needs provision to meet needs in the area. In that regard, my Department is engaging with the Schools' Patron regarding how best to meet the long term accommodation needs of the schools, in question.
A technical site visit to examine the current accommodation was recently carried out at the school. The findings from the site visit, and the options for the future development of this school, are currently being considered. My Department expects to be in further contact in the near future with the Patron and the school's authorities in this regard.
