Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 May 2014
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School Funding
242. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that students at a school (details supplied) in County Galway have no access to on-site sports facilities and that their fundraising efforts have raised significant finance for building a sports hall; and if part funding will be provided in order that they may have a sports hall on site. [22594/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department devolved very significant funding to the school, referred to by the Deputy, in 2010 and 2011 to provide additional general classrooms, specialist rooms and ancillary accommodation to meet the schools accommodation needs. As the Deputy is aware, the primary aim at the core of the Five Year Construction Plan is focused on meeting additional demographic demands to ensure that every child will have access to a physical school place and that our school system is in a position to cope with increasing pupil numbers. The Plan prioritises major school projects in areas where future significant demographic changes have been identified. In that context, my Department is not in a position to prioritise funding for the sports facilities in question and I am not in a position to provide an indicative timeframe for the progression of the project at this time.
