Tony McLoughlin (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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298. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which the school building programmes at primary and second level in counties Sligo and Leitrim continue to proceed as planned having particular regard to the urgent requirement for school places; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13353/17]

Tony McLoughlin (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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299. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which he has received communications from various primary school authorities throughout counties Sligo and Leitrim regarding the provision of new facilities and buildings to meet requirements; the extent to which he expects to be in a position to respond in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13354/17]

Tony McLoughlin (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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300. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which primary school places and class requirements in counties Sligo and Leitrim have been and continue to be met; if class sizes in those counties fall within the national average; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13355/17]

Tony McLoughlin (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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309. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools in counties Sligo and Leitrim likely to benefit from refurbishment or replacement in 2017; the extent to which adequate budgetary provisions have been made in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13364/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 298 to 300, inclusive, and 309 together.

As the Deputy will be aware, my Department consistently monitors demographics to identify where additional school places will be required.   

My Department’s six-year capital programme priorities building projects for these areas, including Counties Sligo and Leitrim.  In this regard, three major capital projects in County Sligo and one major capital project in County Leitrim are being progressed. The capital programme also provides for devolved funding for additional classrooms for schools where an immediate enrolment need has been identified or where an additional teacher has been appointed. Details of such funding approved in all schools, including Sligo and Leitrim is available on my Department’s website and this is updated regularly.

Budget 2017 sets out the resources available for schools for the 2017/18 school year. This Budget represents the start of a major reinvestment in education, and the first phase of implementation of the Action Plan for Education, aimed at becoming the best education system in Europe within a decade. The budget provides for over 2,400 additional teaching posts for our primary and post primary schools next year. This includes additional teaching posts to meet demographic need, curriculum reform, additional guidance posts, additional resource teaching posts, addition teaching support for DEIS schools and the strengthening of school leadership.

The 2017/18 school year will see a significant increase in teacher numbers (almost 4,700) in our schools compared to the 2015/16 school year.

The Programme for Government has a commitment to reduce class sizes at primary level and it is my intention to make further improvements to class sizes over the life of the Government.