When additional accommodation is required at a school, the onus is on the board of management to bring this to the attention of my Department by making a formal application to planning section. Upon receipt of such an application, the short, medium and long-term accommodation requirements of the school are examined in consultation with the local inspector to determine the appropriate type and level of accommodation to be provided.
If an immediate accommodation requirement exists, to facilitate, for example, the appointment of an additional teacher, it may be necessary for the board to rent accommodation on a short-term basis until my Department is in a position to provide a longer term solution. The board of management makes the arrangements for such rental with prior departmental approval. The rent accruing from such an arrangement is currently grant aided at a rate of 50 per cent.
In the case of St. James's national school, County Waterford, no application has been made to-date for additional accommodation. The board should forward an application to the planning section of my Department in Tulla-more, where it will be considered as expeditiously as possible.
