Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 February 2022
454. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Education the position regarding an application for grant aid for major capital works by a school (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4253/22]
View answerI wish to confirm to the Deputy, that an application for Major Capital Funding, has been received from the school in question.
As the Deputy may be aware, the National Development Plan 2021-2030 which was published on 4th Oct 2021, provides capital funding of over €4.4bn for investment in school infrastructure during the period 2021 to 2025.
The key drivers of the education sector capital programme in the short term will continue to be demographic change, alignment with housing provision and national planning at school planning area level. The Department has a large pipeline of projects for delivery under the school building programme. The main elements of this pipeline currently involves in excess of 1200 projects for delivery under the Department’s Large Scale and Additional Accommodation Scheme.
The Capital Programme details the school projects that are being progressed under Project Ireland 2040. I wish to advise the Deputy that the current status of large-scale projects being delivered under project Ireland 2040, may be viewed on my Department's website at www.gov.ie and this information is updated regularly. In addition, a list of large-scale projects completed from 2010 to date may also be viewed on the website.
The Capital Programme also provides for devolved funding for additional classrooms, including accommodation for pupils with special educational needs, if required, for schools where an immediate enrolment need has been identified or where an additional teacher has been appointed.
My Department is also in receipt of an application for funding under the Additional Schools Accommodation (ASA) scheme from the school in question. Officials from my Department have corresponded with the school authority and on receipt of their response the application will be progressed and the decision will issue to the school authority directly.
