Skip to main content
Normal View

Schools Building Projects Status

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 April 2018

Tuesday, 24 April 2018

Questions (242)

Pat the Cope Gallagher

Question:

242. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of improvement works and extension plans required at a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17933/18]

View answer

Written answers

As the Deputy will be aware, very substantial funding was granted to the school in question in May 2014 to provide additional accommodation. 

In February 2015, additional money was approved to address significant abnormal works identified by the school authority and further increased in December 2016 to carry out remedial works to the heating system.

The school has maintained contact with my Department in relation to specific accommodation requests, such as Pastoral Offices, Student Social Area and a new PE Hall.  The school has also referred in general to overall accommodation issues such as corridors, student locker areas and classroom conditions.

I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department’s current priority, within the limited funding available, is the provision of essential classroom accommodation in areas where significant demographic need has been established to ensure that each child will have access to a physical school place. The Deputy will therefore appreciate that all applications for capital funding must be considered in the context of the existing challenging financial circumstances where funding must be prioritised for this purpose and to provide mainstream classroom accommodation where additional teachers are being appointed.

In this context, it is important to note that the Department has clarified in writing to the school authority that the Department is not in a position to advance further needs of the school at present. The school’s accommodation demands remain to be considered subject to available funding but without an indicative timeframe for the progression as a further phase.

Top
Share