Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 June 2018
409. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding funding to carry out renovations at a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25195/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm to the Deputy that the school in question submitted an application for significant capital funding to undertake renovation works at the school.
The Deputy will be aware that my Department's 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. The Deputy 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.
The school currently operates with a principal and four mainstream teachers and I understand that with the reduction in enrolment level at the school, that this warrants a staffing of principal and three mainstream teachers for the 2018/2019 school year.
The nature of the works included in the school's application indicate that they are appropriate for consideration under the Summer Works Scheme (SWS). It will be open to the school, if it so decides, to make an application for funding under future SWS. The purpose of the SWS is to devolve funding to individual school authorities to undertake small and medium scale improvement works that will upgrade existing school facilities, which can be carried out during the summer months or at other times that avoid disrupting the operation of the school. The scheme is designed to address necessary and immediate works within the funding available. My Department has no record of receiving any application from the school in question under the SWS in recent years.
Alternatively, the school may use its minor works to carry out the works in full or on a phased basis as the grant permits, if the school considers the works to be a priority.
My Department has written directly to the school to clarify the position.
