Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Since 2020, the Department of Education has invested in the region of €3.5 billion in our schools, involving the completion of more than 690 school building projects, and with construction under way at approximately 300 other projects. School building projects at construction involve an overall State investment of in excess of €1.2 billion. We also have 200 modular accommodation projects very well advanced for delivery or at the construction stage. This is a record level of investment in our schools and highlights the Government’s very strong track record of delivery in providing additional capacity and modern facilities for our school communities.

I confirm to the Deputy that the Department is in receipt of an application for a new school building from the school authority in question. The school also made an application under the additional school accommodation, ASA, scheme. The purpose of this scheme is to ensure essential mainstream and special education classroom accommodation is available to cater for pupils in the area and where the need cannot be met by the school’s existing accommodation or at other nearby schools.

As the Deputy may be aware, I met with the school authorities in relation to their ASA application in June 2021. Following this meeting, I directed an official from my planning and building unit's professional and technical section to visit the school. This technical assessment identified certain complexities with the existing school properties, including challenges with access and the topography of the school's two sites.

My Department is currently considering the optimum way forward for the school in question following this technical report. Given the identified complexities with the existing school properties, there is a particular challenge in identifying a solution to the school’s accommodation needs that will support the continued effective operation of the school while presenting a sustainable solution to meet the primary school place needs in the area in the longer term. Demographic trends and capacity at other schools in the area form part of this consideration.

In the first instance, my Department has a focus on any school accommodation provision that may be required in the short to medium term and, in that context, modular accommodation to facilitate two additional classrooms was approved for the school in question in 2022.

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