Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans for the present and future accommodation requirements in respect of a school (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14151/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The 5 Year Construction Plan that I announced on 9 March 2012, outlines the major school projects that will commence construction over the duration of the Plan. Details of these projects are also contained on the website. The primary aim at the core of the Five Year Plan is focussed on meeting demographic demands to ensure that every child will have access to a physical school place and that our school system is in a position to cope with increasing pupil numbers.

Due to competing demands on my Department's capital budget, imposed by the need to prioritise the limited funding available for the provision of additional school accommodation to meet increasing demographic requirements, it was not possible to include the project referred to by the Deputy.

My Department will consider applications by schools for funding for additional classrooms, which schools may provide on a permanent basis, where an immediate enrolment need is arising.

Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if an agreement exists between his Department and a religious order to provide land in County Cork for an extension to a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14152/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I can confirm to the Deputy that a property partly occupied by the school to which he refers was offered to my Department in 2009 as part of an offer of properties by the Religious Order who owned it, in the aftermath of the publication of the Ryan Report. The Government's response to this offer indicated that while the property was not of immediate interest, the Order was asked not to dispose of the property without first giving the Minister the option of taking possession.

Since then there have been further discussions between officials of my Department and representatives of the Religious Order in question and I can advise the Deputy that agreement has recently been reached in principle to transfer the property to the Department. However, as discussions are ongoing, I am not in a position to comment further at this time.

Once the property has been transferred, its use to meet the accommodation needs of the school referred to by the Deputy will be considered in the context of the capital budget available to my Department for school buildings generally.