Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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371. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a funding request by a school (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20470/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy submitted a major capital application to my Department in late 2016.

The 6 Year Capital Programme(2016-2021), announced in November 2015, detailed the major school building projects that are scheduled to proceed to tender/construction over the lifetime of the Programme. The major project application in respect of the school in question was received after publication of the 2016-2021 Programme. In that context, while it is not possible to consider inclusion of a major project for the school in question in the Programme at this time, my Department has advised the school in question that the school’s application will be retained and will fall to be considered in the context of the Department’s next Capital Construction Programme.

To meet immediate school needs, funding has been approved in recent years. In March 2016, my Department approved an all in grant of just over €91,000 for emergency electrical upgrade works at the school which were completed in September 2016. In addition, in June 2016, a very significant devolved grant was approved to provide a permanent extension to accommodate a two classroom ASD Unit. In that regard, I understand that the Design Team has been appointed to the project concerned.