Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 January 2023
463. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education if a school (details supplied) will open a second additional class for primary school entrants for 2023-2024 academic year given the physical additional capacity being used by another institution, recognising the lack of alternative local multi and non-denominational educational options in the area. [4685/23]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy, that my Department approved a change of status request for the school in question, to go to a 2 stream school from a 1 stream school. This approval is to take effect from when the school in question has full possession of the Greenhills building. The school in question are currently sharing accommodation with a special school, which is awaiting new accommodation to be delivered under my Department's Capital Programme.
In the interim, the school in question have been approved for additional temporary accommodation for their current cohort of teachers and pupils. For the 2022/23 school year they were provided 1 Mainstream classroom and 2 SET rooms and they have also been approved for a further Mainstream classroom. My officials have been in contact with the school authorities in relation to their accommodation needs and remain available to them.
