Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 May 2024
207. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education when a decision on an application for the provision of additional accommodation for a school in County Donegal (details supplied) will be made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20515/24]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy, that my Department is in receipt of an application for capital funding, under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme, from the school in question.
The purpose of the ASA scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream and special education classroom accommodation is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year and where the need cannot be met by the school’s existing accommodation or at other schools in the area.
My Department's focus is on the most critical needs for the next school year and how each individual school’s accommodation can be best utilised and at capacity across schools in each school planning area. In the context of making most effective use of our capital allocation, and mindful of climate action goals, my officials are working to make sure that all school accommodation capacity is being maximised.
The consideration of the accommodation requirements for the school in question forms part of the Planning and Building Unit’s overall assessment of its work programme and priorities in the context of available capital funding. Unfortunately it is not therefore possible to give an indication at this point in time of the timeframe for the provision of additional accommodation at the school.
The provision of required school places including for children with special education needs is a priority for my Department. I can assure the Deputy my officials are working to ensure that there is sufficient provision to meet the school place needs in the school in question and the wider area for 2024/25 and future years.
