Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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As the Deputy is aware, my Department's over-riding objective is to ensure that every child has access to a physical school place and that our school system is in a position to cope with increasing pupil numbers. To ensure that this is achieved, the delivery of major school projects to meet significant demographic demands nationally will be the main focus for capital investment in schools in the coming years. The 5 Year Construction Plan that was announced in March 2012 is focused on meeting this demand.

In this regard, County Kildare has been identified as an area of significant demographic growth. The Deputy will be aware that the 5 Year Plan provides for eleven new schools across the County together with 14 major extension projects. My Department will also consider applications, under its Additional Accommodation Scheme, from individual schools for devolved funding to meet an immediate accommodation requirement because of increased enrolments or where an additional teacher has been appointed. There is sufficient funding over the period 2012 to 2016 to allow the projects announced under the 5 Year Plan to advance to construction and funding is likewise available for projects approved under the Additional Accommodation Scheme for the purpose outlined above.