Robert Troy
Question:588. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education the status of an application for a general purpose hall and-or gymnasium for a school (details supplied). [28152/23]
View answerTuesday, 13 June 2023
Questions (588)
Written answers
I can confirm to the Deputy, that my Department is in receipt of an application for the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme, from the school in question.
This application is currently being assessed, including identified technical complexities that are being considered as part of the assessment of the school’s accommodation needs. My officials will be in touch with the school authorities in relation to their application at soon as possible. However, the provision of PE Halls is outside the scope of the ASA scheme.
The main focus of my Department’s resources over the last decade and for the coming period is on provision of additional capacity to cater for increasing demographics particularly at post-primary level, and for provision to meet the needs of children with special educational needs. My Department has successfully supported and facilitated the enrolment of over 15,000 children from Ukraine in our primary and post primary schools.
Under Project Ireland 2040 the education sector will receive a total of approximately €4.4 billion capital investment over the period 2021-2025. There will be a rolling 5 year funding envelope which will be updated annually for the period 2026 to 2030 within the Government’s overall NDP funding envelope of €136 billion in exchequer capital (€165 billion total capital including non-Exchequer) that will facilitate building a modern and sustainable school infrastructure.
This significant investment allows us to move forward with certainty on our ambitious plans and deliver high quality building projects, with a real focus on sustainability, for school communities across Ireland. The strengthened focus on refurbishment of existing school stock will have different strands and will include a PE build and modernisation programme which will enable students in post-primary schools to have access to appropriate facilities to support PE provision, particularly also in the context of the roll-out of PE as a leaving-certificate subject. Enhanced and modernised PE facilities will also provide important amenities for local communities.
My Department will continue to work to ensure that capital investment in our schools is targeted in the most efficient and effective way to support schools in meeting the education needs of their students and local communities.