Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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506. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if an application for major capital works or relocation to a green field site by a school (details supplied) in County Cork has been received within her Department recently; the way this matter will be progressed in the context of the awaited publication of the five year building programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25857/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I can confirm to the Deputy that the school in question has recently applied to my Department for large scale capital funding for the replacement of the school building in addition to substantial special needs provision, on a greenfield site to be provided by the Patron. The application is being assessed and input is being sought from the National Council for Special Education in respect of the special needs element.

As the Deputy will appreciate, the school's request must be considered in the context of the financial constraints imposed by the need, as outlined in my Department's Five Year Capital investment programme, to prioritise available funding for the provision of essential school classroom accommodation to meet demographic demand. In this context, it is not possible to indicate at this point when a building project for the school in question will be progressed.

My Department approved funding to the school in March 2014 to provide a special needs unit. The school has not drawn down any of this funding to date.