School Accommodation.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 June 2004

Tuesday, 22 June 2004

Ceisteanna (172)

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

163 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will provide extra temporary accommodation to a school (details supplied) in County Kildare due to the increase in students attending same and the provision of a fourth assistant from 2004; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the only accommodation available for those extra students will be the general purpose room which the school uses for physical education classes and as a result of same, the school will not be in a position to offer physical education to their students from October to March; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18565/04]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. N. Dempsey)

An application for additional accommodation was received from the school to which the Deputy refers. However, in the context of the available funding and the number of applications for it, it was not possible to approve all applications for temporary accommodation this year. Only those with an absolute and demonstrated need for additional accommodation were approved. All other schools are required, as an interim measure, to maximise the use of existing accommodation until my Department is in a position to make extra accommodation available.