Dáil Éireann Debate, Friday - 16 December 2016
188. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a longstanding application for refurbishment and extension of facilities at a school (details supplied) will be progressed; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that such facilities are needed to cater for increasing enrolments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40937/16]
View answerI can confirm that my Department received an application from the school, to which the Deputy refers, for a major capital project which included a request for additional classrooms, electrical works, hearing impaired unit and a PE Hall.
My Department contacted the school regarding the application and the school subsequently prioritised elements of the application, specifically, classrooms, a hearing impaired unit and electrical works.
My Department approved funding to the school for 3 mainstream classrooms, a hearing impaired unit and electrical works. The project for the classrooms was completed in 2015 and the hearing impaired project is currently in train. The electrical works were funded under the Summer Works Scheme 2016/17 and these works are also in train.
My Department explained to the school that due to the very significant challenge facing my Department in prioritising the available capital funding for essential classrooms to meet the demand for extra school places, it is not possible, at this point, to consider the school's application for a PE Hall.
