Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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114. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans for increasing the number of places at the Gaelsoileanna in Lucan and Palmerstown to meet the growing demand for these places from local families. [11580/14]

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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116. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the total number of Gaelscoil places available in Lucan and Palmerstown in 2011 to 2013, inclusive, and to date in 2014; and if he will provide an estimate of the current level of demand for places in these schools. [11582/14]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 114 and 116 together.

There are two Gaelscoileanna in the Lucan feeder area. While Palmerstown does not currently have a Gaelscoil, it is open to pupils from Palmerstown to apply for places in the Lucan gaelscoileanna. The total enrolment in the schools is 2011/12 = 787; 2012/13 = 882. The number of pupils enrolled in individual schools is provided in the National School Annual Census. Results from the Census for the current school year (2013/2014) are being finalised at present. Publication of all data at primary level and a final list of schools and their enrolments will be on my Department's website by the end of the school year.

My Department is currently analysing demographic data across the country, including that for the Lucan and Palmerstown feeder areas, to ensure that any additional demand for places can be met in a timely manner. In the intervening period, it is, of course, open to schools themselves to apply for funding for additional accommodation where they consider this is warranted. Earlier this year, one of the schools was approved funding for an extra classroom. I understand that there are no further applications on hands for capital funding from the schools.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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115. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans for improving the facilities at the Gaelscoileanna in Lucan and Palmerstown by providing funding for schools to provide classrooms for their pupils in place of the existing prefabs. [11581/14]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I wish to advise the Deputy, that while there are no gaelscoileanna in Palmerstown, my Department provided a new 16 classroom school for a gaelscoil in Lucan in 2012. This is in addition to the existing 16 classroom gaelscoil in Lucan.

As the Deputy is aware, my Department's over-riding objective is to ensure that every child has access to a physical school place and that our school system is in a position to cope with increasing pupil numbers. This must remain our priority. However, my Department will continue to provide improved accommodation in our schools within the funding available. In the case of schools with purchased pre-fab accommodation, which is in urgent need of repair, it is open to such schools to utilise their capitation grants or minor works grant in the case of primary schools to undertake such repairs. Where prefabs have significant structural issues, it is open to the schools to submit an application to my Department for the replacement of such prefabs and each application will be considered on a case by case basis within the funding available. My Department would request that a technical report and supporting evidence relating to the condition of the prefabs and outlining the works required should accompany any submission.

Due to constraints on available funding imposed by the need to provide additional accommodation to meet demographic growth, my Department will deal with applications from schools for devolved funding for the replacement of purchased prefabs on a case by case basis in the context of available funding and the immediate accommodation needs of the school.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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117. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of prefabs being used by Gaelscoileanna in Lucan and Palmerstown. [11583/14]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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A list of Gaelscoileanna that have rented prefabricated buildings is attached for the Deputy's attention. My Department does not hold information in the sub-county format as requested. Schools that are included on my Department's 5 Year Capital Programme and Prefab Replacement Initiatives are highlighted, as these will have their temporary accommodation replaced with permanent buildings. Please note that a prefab unit may consist of one or more classrooms and/or ancillary accommodation. Gaelscoileanna in Dublin renting prefabricated buildings - March 2014

**Included in 5 Year Programme.