Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 October 2023
76. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education if her Department has examined the substandard condition of the 1980s prefabricated classroom at a school (details supplied) in County Clare; if she will give consideration to urgently approving a new replacement classroom; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44809/23]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy, that my Department is in receipt of an application for capital funding, under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme from the school in question for special class accommodation to replace prefabricated classroom.
The purpose of the Additional Schools Accommodation (ASA) scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream and special education classroom accommodation is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year and where the need cannot be met by the school’s existing accommodation.
I can assure the Deputy that my Department is working to ensure that there is appropriate school accommodation in place to meet the school place needs of all children. In the first instance, this is focused on ensuring that the use of existing school accommodation capacity is fully optimised. Where additional capacity is required this can be provided by means of modular accommodation where accelerated delivery is required, or by means of traditional construction projects.
My Department reviewed the application and has indicated to the school authority that it is in a position to provide modular accommodation for one Mainstream classroom to replace the substandard prefab. The provisional offer of one modular classroom was accepted by the school. In addition, the school has requested to retain the prefab on site for a preschool.
Arising from this response from the school, officials in my Department are liaising with the school authorities with a view to gaining greater clarity as to the exact nature of the accommodation needs.
