Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 October 2022
395. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Education the steps that a school (details supplied) needs to take to deal with additional accommodation needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49732/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm to the Deputy that funding has previously been approved for a building project under my Department’s Additional Accommodation Scheme that will provide for 2 mainstream classrooms and 2 SET rooms for the school in question. This project is currently at the planning stage.
Further correspondence has been received recently from the school requesting the provision of additional accommodation to facilitate the current intake of Ukrainian pupils.
My Department is aware that in particular the Donegal area is accommodating a significant number of Ukrainians which has put pressure on surrounding schools to accommodate pupils.
Utilisation of each school’s existing capacity in the most flexible way possible is key to supporting Ukrainian children who are being enrolled in our schools.
It is very important for existing capacity in a town or area to be fully utilised before looking at additional accommodation requirements either via off-site or modular accommodation solutions. This requires good cooperation and collaboration between schools supported as necessary through the local Regional Education and Language Teams (REALT) whose primary role is to assist children in finding school places and to support schools to meet the needs of these children as they emerge.
I can confirm that the local REALT co-ordinator has been in contact with the school in relation to its accommodation needs.
My Department’s assessment of any request for additional accommodation will include consideration of whether capacity across all other schools in the town or area is fully utilised. The request from the school referred to is currently being assessed and my Department will be in communication with the school in this respect shortly.
