Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 24 May 2012
52 Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the proposal to provide additional permanent accommodation at a school (details supplied) in County Cavan; if this application will be reviewed in view of the significant increase in pupil numbers at the school in recent years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25882/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are five primary schools in the Virginia feeder area. While enrolments have increased over the past decade, my Department has projected that future enrolments will remain relatively stable up to 2018. The current enrolment at St Mary's is 380 pupils — up from 350 in 2007. So while enrolment levels have been growing at the school they have increased by less than 10% over the last five years.
To ensure that every child has access to a school place, the delivery of projects to meet the increasing demographic demands will be the main focus for capital investment over the next 5 years, particularly in those areas where it has been identified that most future demographic growth will be concentrated.
The project for the school referred to by the Deputy, will continue to progress through the design stages of architectural planning within the context of available funding. However, due to competing demands on my Departments capital budget, it is not possible at this time to progress the project to construction stage.
