Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 May 2023
181. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education the options that are available for a school (details supplied) with regard to funding to provide an all-weather pitch within the school grounds; if any active applications from the school are under review in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20727/23]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that the purpose of my Department’s Additional School Accommodation (or ASA) scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream classroom accommodation and accommodation for pupils with special education needs is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year, where the need cannot be met by the school’s existing accommodation.
At primary level, this situation generally arises to cater for a school’s accommodation requirements where an additional teaching post has been sanctioned by Teacher Allocation Section, or the requirement for a new class for pupils with special education needs has been identified by the NCSE, and all available alternative accommodation within the school is already being used for classroom purposes.
Funding for the provision of all-weather pitches does not fall under the ASA scheme. However, it is also open to primary schools to use their minor works grant to carry out improvement works to the school's infrastructure.
