Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 71: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will indicate definitively that a school (details supplied) in County Westmeath has been classified by his Department as a permanent recognised school; if so, if he will indicate the importance of that status being vested upon the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28489/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I am pleased to advise the Deputy that permanent recognition has been awarded to the school to which he refers. A letter confirming this has issued to the Patron and school authority.

Schools granted permanent recognition status are eligible to apply to my Department for capital funding. It should be understood, however, that the provision of interim accommodation remains the responsibility of the Patron until my Department is in a position to provide permanent accommodation.

In view of the need to ensure that every child has access to a school place, the delivery of major school projects to meet future demographic demands nationally will be the main focus for capital investment in schools in the coming years. The five year programme announced on 12 March last is focused on meeting those demographic needs.

In the context, therefore, of the financial constraints imposed by the need to prioritise available funding for the provision of essential school accommodation to meet this demographic demand, it is not possible to indicate at this point when permanent accommodation can be provided for the school in question.