John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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55. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of building projects proposed for schools (details supplied). [15112/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department approved additional accommodation at the first named school and the project was devolved to the Board of Management for delivery. The Board has since sought significant additional funding for the project. The request is currently being considered and a decision will be conveyed to the Board when this process had been finalised.

In the case of the second named school, my Department received an application from the school for improved accommodation. My Department advised the school that the current priority is focused on providing essential classroom accommodation to meet demographic demand and where an additional teacher is being appointed, to ensure that every child will have access to a physical school place. In this regard, a new primary school opened in the area in September 2012 to meet demographic need. When fully developed, this school will have capacity for 16 mainstream classrooms. In the circumstances, grant aid could not be provided to the school referred to by the Deputy. The school's application will, however, be retained on file in the event of funding becoming available in the future.

I also wish to advise the Deputy that my Department provided funding amounting to €732,620 to the school in recent years for additional mainstream classrooms, roof works and window replacement.