Marian Harkin
Question:62. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Education the status of the provision of a new school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52686/23]
View answerWednesday, 29 November 2023
Questions (62)
Written answers
Since 2020, the Department of Education has invested in the region of €3.5 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 690 school building projects, and with construction currently underway at approximately 300 other projects. School building projects at construction involve an overall State investment of over €1.2 billion. We also have 200 modular accommodation projects that are very well advanced for delivery or at construction stage. This is a record level of investment in our schools and highlights the Government’s very strong track record of delivery in providing additional capacity and modern facilities for our school communities.
I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department is in receipt of an application for a new school building from the school authority in question. The school also made an application under the Additional School Accommodation, or ASA, Scheme. The purpose of the ASA scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream and special education classroom accommodation is available to cater for pupils in the area and where the need cannot be met by the school’s existing accommodation or at other nearby schools.
As the Deputy may be aware, I met with the school authorities in relation to their ASA application in June 2021. Following this meeting I directed an official from my Planning and Building Unit's Professional and Technical section to visit the school. This technical assessment identified certain complexities with the existing school properties, including challenges with access and the topography of the school's two sites.
My Department is currently considering the optimum way forward for the school in question following this technical report. Given the identified complexities with the existing school properties there is a particular challenge in identifying a solution to the school’s accommodation needs that will support the continued effective operation of the school while presenting a sustainable solution to meet the primary school place needs in the area in the longer term. Demographic trends and capacity at other schools in the area form part of this consideration.
In the first instance, my Department has a focus on any school accommodation provision that may be required in the short- to medium-term and, in that context, modular accommodation to facilitate two additional classrooms was approved for the school in question in 2022.
The main focus of my Department’s capital funding over the last decade and for the coming period is on provision of critical additional capacity to cater for increasing demographics and children with special education needs.
The Department is required to manage the overall school building programme so that we target and prioritise areas that are under greatest pressure for additional school places. This reflects our fundamental objective of ensuring the availability of a school place for every child.
The overall position with regard to potential modernisation and replacement of existing infrastructure will be kept under review as capital funding allocations for future years are clarified.
The Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform will be engaging with Departments on NDP allocations for the period 2026 to 2028 over the coming months, with allocation decisions expected during the first half of 2024.
I can assure the Deputy that the provision of required school places, including for children with special educational needs, is a priority for my Department and my officials are working to ensure that there is sufficient provision to meet the school place needs in the school in question and the wider School Planning Area for future years.