Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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272. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department's inspectors are enabled to comment on the physical infrastructural constraints and limitations within schools as part of the whole school evaluation process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9121/14]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Inspectors are enabled to comment on physical infrastructure, facilities and deployment of resources during whole school evaluations. While the primary focus of whole-school evaluation is on the quality of teaching, learning, school leadership and management, where serious shortcomings in relation to school facilities are found these are raised with the school authorities and recommendations are included in the inspection report. The matter is also brought to the attention of my Department's planning and building unit. In addition, the planning and building unit may request the Inspectorate to conduct specific visits to schools on matters relating to planning and school facilities. In the period January 2012 to December 2013 inspectors conducted 91 such visits to primary and post-primary schools.