Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 November 2021
402. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education if a school (details supplied) will be considered for funding for additional accommodation given the fact that it has recently become a co-educational school and additional space is required; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54056/21]
View answerI can confirm that my Department received an application for capital funding, under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme from the school authority referred to by the Deputy. A decision on this application has issued to the school authority.
The purpose of the scheme is to ensure that essential classroom accommodation is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year and where the need cannot be met by the school’s existing accommodation. When the application was assessed, it was noted that there are currently classrooms in use by third parties. The onus is on the Board of Management and the Patron to ensure that there is sufficient accommodation to meet the school’s long-term projected enrolment and any development which may arise in the area. In that regard, where additional accommodation is required at the school in the future, any accommodation used for purposes other than primary school provision must revert to mainstream use as soon as the need arises. The use of classrooms for teaching and learning is the priority for the school. The Department do not provide funding for additional accommodation when there are available classrooms within the school building.
