James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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309. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if additional funding will be acquired to address the lack of space within a school (details supplied) in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34390/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, the school to which he refers submitted an application to my Department, for significant capital funding for improved school accommodation. The application was considered in the context of the very significant challenges facing my Department in prioritising available capital funding for essential mainstream classrooms to meet the demand for extra school places and in cases where additional teachers have been appointed.  The school in question has not been sanctioned an additional teaching post and on that basis, my Department was not in a position to provide a grant to the school. My Department wrote to the school authority last February explaining the position.

The delivery of new schools together with extension projects to meet future demand will be the main focus of the Department's budget for the coming years.