Schools Building Projects Status

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 June 2015

Tuesday, 30 June 2015

Ceisteanna (537)

Tony McLoughlin

Ceist:

537. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills with regard to a school (details supplied) in County Sligo which operates from temporary premises and out of prefabricated classrooms, the current band rating for the school given that the need for a permanent building is more urgent due to an increase in the number of students; if a new list of school buildings which have been identified for capital investment is to be published soon; if this school will be on this list; if her Department has requested Sligo County Council to identify a site for a new school; and, if so, the current status of this project. [26140/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

My Department is working closely with Sligo County Council in relation to the identification of a permanent site for the school in question and potential site options have been assessed. As the Deputy will appreciate, there are commercial sensitivities associated with land acquisitions generally and I am not in a position to comment further on the site acquisition at this time. I expect to be in a position to announce a successor construction programme later this year. As part of the preparatory process for the programme, a major detailed demographic analysis is currently underway in my Department to identify the particular areas across the country where additional new schools and extensions will be required to meet additional demographic demand.