Peter Burke
Ceist:305. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a school (details supplied) in County Longford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45673/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 7 November 2017
Ceisteanna (305)
Freagraí scríofa
As the Deputy is aware, the 2-teacher school in question submitted an application to my Department for funding to construct a General Purpose (GP) Room and for prefab replacement.
The application was considered in the context of the very significant challenges facing my Department in prioritising available capital funding for essential mainstream classrooms to meet the demand for extra school places and in cases where additional teachers have been appointed. An additional teacher has not been appointed to the school concerned. In the circumstances, my Department advised the school that it is not in a position to provide funding for a GP Room.
With regard to prefab replacement, over the lifetime of my Department's Capital Programme, it is my intention to replace all purchased temporary accommodation with permanent accommodation, where the need is established. To enable this development, my Department will be carrying out an assessment of the number of prefabs being used in all schools, including the school to which the Deputy refers, to deliver the curriculum. This will also determine whether or not individual prefabs need to be replaced in the context of the long-term accommodation needs of each individual school. When completed, this assessment will quantify the number of prefabs to be replaced. The school authority has also been advised accordingly.