Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 31 May 2018
80. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education and Skills if financial assistance will be provided to a centre (details supplied) in finding a temporary solution to its parking problems while it awaits a response to its proposal for a new site and building; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23996/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are 21 full time and 9 part time Education Centres. The Education Centre network provides a national infrastructure for the delivery of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for teachers and Centres. Every centre has a locally elected Management Committee and a Director appointed on secondment.
My Department is the main funder of Education Centres through direct budget allocations for administrative staff pay and operating costs and local courses. In 2017, the Department provided funding of €436,948 to Limerick Education Centre and a similar level of funding will be provided in 2018.
Limerick Education Centre is situated in a building owned by Limerick and Clare ETB. The Centre has advised the Department that since September 2017 it has been experiencing car parking difficulties and has submitted a proposal with long term and interim solutions.
I wish to clarify that the current priority, within the limited funding available, is the provision of essential classroom accommodation in areas where significant demographic need has been established to ensure that each child will have access to a physical school place. You will therefore appreciate that all applications for capital funding must be considered in the context of the existing challenging financial circumstances where funding must be prioritised for this purpose and to provide mainstream classroom accommodation where additional teachers are being appointed.
In this regard, the delivery of new schools together with extension projects to meet future demand will be the main focus of the School Planning and Building Unit’s budget for the coming year.
Officials of my Department will continue to liaise with the Centre to see how best its car parking issue can be resolved.
