Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 November 2021
336. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education the circumstances under which her Department funds new school halls in primary schools; if an application was received and considered from a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56940/21]
View answerI can confirm that my Department received an application for capital funding in 2019, under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme from the school authority referred to by the Deputy. A decision on this application issued directly to the school authority.
The purpose of the ASA scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream classroom and Special Education Needs (SEN) accommodation is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year, where the need cannot be met by the school’s existing accommodation.
The immediate priority of my Department is providing new and replacement school places each year, to ensure that every child has a school place. Accordingly, the main focus of resources over the last decade and for the coming period is on the provision of additional capacity to cater for increasing demographics. The second half of the NDP will see an increasing focus on the upgrade and refurbishment of the existing school stock, including provision for ancillary accommodation such as GP rooms in primary schools.
In the case of all new school building projects, however, I wish to advise the Deputy that the provision of a GP room forms part of the accommodation brief. These facilities may also form part of the overall accommodation brief for major capital extensions to existing schools. Details of both large-scale and ASA projects being delivered by my Department may be viewed on my Department's website at www.gov.ie and this information is updated regularly.
