Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There is no doubt that meeting this level of population expansion has put a strain on other work. The Deputy knows that areas such as PE halls have not been possible in recent years. Other things that one would like to do that have had to take second place to ensuring that we have places for every student who needs them. We certainly meet emergency requirements within our budgets. Looking to the future, the plan that has been set out has very significant ambitions to upgrade PE facilities, science laboratories and digital equipment in the long term, as well as a deep refurbishment and refit of all schools over ten years of age. The ten-year capital plan looks at how we will upgrade the facilities to meet 21st century needs, whereas up to this we have been running hard just to make sure that we meet population demands.

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