Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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366. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application for additional space made by a school (details supplied) in County Tipperary; when a decision will issue on this application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13778/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is in receipt of an application for additional accommodation from the school referred to.

The application is currently being assessed and my Department will be in direct contact with the school authority concerned when the assessment process has concluded.

Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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367. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department has a policy regarding the use of sports halls as classrooms in schools; if officials in the building unit have been advising principals to use the sports halls as classrooms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13782/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department only considers the use of Sports/PE halls or General Purpose rooms as classrooms where an immediate accommodation need arises to cater for increased enrolments or extra staffing and it is not possible to meet this need straight away. This approach may also be considered where the requirement for additional accommodation is a short-term necessity. For long-term needs, my Department makes funding available under its Additional Accommodation Scheme for permanent accommodation for a school.

The Deputy will appreciate that my Department's primary objective is to ensure that every child has access to a physical school place and that funding is prioritised for the provision of essential classroom accommodation to meet demographic demand.