Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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172. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will examine the status of an application for funding by a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19121/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that no application for funding has been received from the school, referred to, in respect of this issue. I understand that this school has sufficient classroom accommodation to meet its needs. I understand also that it is the school's intention to utilise the prefab in question for ancillary purposes. On this basis, my Department raised no objection to the transfer of a prefab in December 2015 to the school and it was understood by my Department that the school was prepared to meet the costs involved.

It is open to the school to fund the prefab removal from its minor works grant, which all primary schools received last November, if the school considers the removal to be a priority. It is also open to the school authorities to submit an application for funding to my Department. Any application received will be considered in the context of my Department's focus on prioritising the funding available for the provision of essential classroom accommodation to meet demographic need.