Paul Connaughton (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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69. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a general purpose room and third additional classroom were not granted for a school (details supplied) in County Galway as part of a recent school building plan for the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16958/14]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that the school, to which he refers, has submitted an application for devolved funding for additional accommodation including four mainstream classrooms, two SET rooms and a larger GP room to meet projected future expansion to 2017/18.

Given the current financial constraints within which my Department is operating, the position is that priority is being given to school applications for essential mainstream classroom and special education accommodation. In that context, my Department has advised the school concerned that it is not in a position to provide funding for a larger GP room at this time.

However, I am pleased to advise the Deputy that my Department approved significant funding for the provision of two en-suite mainstream classrooms, resource accommodation and special needs facilities to meet increasing enrolments at the school in question. This level of additional accommodation will meet the schools accommodation needs.

It was noted that the school advised as part of its application that 'our school is the school of choice for many parents in the environs beyond our catchment'. It is important that school size is monitored and that a balance is preserved among all schools in catchment areas and across catchment areas to ensure that one school is not expanding at the expense or the viability of another school. This may sometimes result in children not being offered a place in their school of first choice.