Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

On behalf of the Minister for Education, I thank the Deputy for raising this matter as it provides me with an opportunity to clarify the position concerning the Department of Education’s plans and specifically regarding the application for a PE Hall at Seamount College, Kinvara, County Galway. The Deputy may be aware that Seamount College is a mixed Catholic secondary school in the town of Kinvara. The school had an enrolment in September 2022 of 608 pupils and in September 2023 of 620 pupils. The school is located in the Kinvara school planning area and there are currently six primary schools and one post-primary school in this school planning area. I am pleased to advise the Deputy that a building project for the provision of 12 general classrooms, one technology room and preparation area, two home economics rooms, one art and craft room, one science laboratory and preparation area and one staff room, along with an assisted-user WC is currently at construction stage. The school submitted a further additional school accommodation application to the Department of Education in May 2023, requesting funding for the reconfiguration of existing accommodation for special education classes, a soft play area, a PE hall and changing facilities. The purpose of the additional school accommodation 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 by available accommodation at other schools in the area. A request for a PE hall does not come within the remit of the additional school accommodation scheme. Since 2020, the Department of Education has invested approximately €3.5 billion in schools throughout the country, involving the completion of more than 690 school building projects and construction under way in approximately 300 other projects. School building projects at construction involve an overall State investment of more than €1.2 billion. There are also 200 modular accommodation projects which are well advanced for delivery or at construction stage. This is a record level of investment in our schools and highlights the Government’s strong track record of delivery in providing additional capacity and modern facilities for school communities.

A future strengthened focus on refurbishment of existing school stock will have different strands. It will include a PE build and modernisation programme which will enable students in post-primary schools to have access to appropriate facilities to support PE provision, particularly in the context of the roll-out of PE as a leaving certificate subject. Enhanced and modernised PE facilities will also provide important amenities for local communities. However, the main focus of the Department’s capital funding over the past decade and for the coming period is on the provision of critical additional capacity to cater for increasing demographics and children with special education needs. The Department is required to manage the overall school building programme so that we target and prioritise the areas under greatest pressure for additional school places. This reflects the Department’s fundamental objective of ensuring the availability of a school place for every child.

The overall position with regard to potential modernisation and replacement of existing school infrastructure will be kept under review as capital funding allocations for future years are clarified. The Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform will engage with Departments on national development plan allocations for 2026 to 2028 over the coming months, with allocation decisions expected in the first half of 2024. With respect to special education, the Department works closely with the NCSE on forward planning for increased special education provision in the form of additional special classes and special school places. This close engagement with the NCSE involves strategic planning to ensure that existing accommodation capacity, where it exists, is utilised and maximised in the context of providing new special classes. It also facilitates the identification of required accommodation solutions where additional capacity is required. Officials in the Department of Education have been engaging with Seamount College regarding its application for additional accommodation and will continue to liaise with the school and the NCSE regarding any requirements for accommodation for children with special educational needs.

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