Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 May 2020
248. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education and Skills if an additional school accommodation application by a school (details supplied) has been received; the supports available to island schools designated as DEIS for capital investment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4812/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm to the Deputy that my Department received an application, from the school in question, for capital funding for a PE Hall. The application was assessed and the school authority was informed that funding could not be approved, at this time, under the Additional School Accommodation Scheme.
Under the National Development Plan (NDP), increased funding has been provided for the school sector capital investment programme. This funding allows for a continued focus on the provision of new permanent school places to keep pace with demographic demand and also provides for an additional focus on the refurbishment of existing school buildings to include the building and modernisation of PE facilities in post-primary schools.
Under the Ireland Project 2040, we will invest €8.4 billion (compared to €4.9 billion in the previous decade) in primary and post primary school buildings.
The immediate priority of my Department is providing 20,000 new and replacement school places each year, to ensure that every child has a school place. The government will focus in the medium term on the provision of PE facilities in post primary schools.
I can also confirm to the Deputy that, in recognition of the unique challenges facing island schools and in addition to the supports already being provided as part of the Gaeltacht School Recognition Scheme, a specific package of targeted supports has been provided for every island post-primary school from September 2018, as part of the overall implementation of the Policy on Gaeltacht Education. The specific package of additional supports for island post-primary schools include increased teacher allocation for each of the island post-primary schools from its previous allocation of 1 whole-time equivalent post to 1.5 whole-time equivalent posts and an additional ring-fenced budget of €15,000 per annum for each island post-primary school.
