School Funding

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 February 2019

Thursday, 21 February 2019

Questions (96)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

96. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application by a school (details supplied) for funding relating to the proposed general purpose hall; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that students of the school who participate in physical education classes require a teacher to vacate a classroom; his views on whether this arrangement is unacceptable; and if the processing of the application will be facilitated. [8907/19]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The Deputy will be aware that under the Project Ireland 2040 National Development Plan (NDP), increased funding has been provided for the school sector capital investment programme.  This funding allows for a continued focus on the provision of a new permanent school places to keep pace with demographic demand and also provides for an additional focus on the refurbishment of existing school buildings to include the building and modernisation of PE facilities in schools. 

The immediate priority of my Department is providing 20,000 new and replacement school places each year, to ensure that every child has a school place.  The government will focus in the medium term on the provision of PE facilities in schools.