Marcella Corcoran Kennedy (Offaly, Fine Gael)
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324. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason an original decision giving approval for additional accommodation was overturned at a school (details supplied); if he will review this application for additional accommodation in view of the significant increase in enrolments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35896/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department received a number of applications in recent years, from the school referred, for additional accommodation. In that regard, my Department approved funding for the provision of a room for Special Education Teaching in April 2015. The project has been delivered and the additional accommodation has greatly improved the facilities in the school.

An application to provide an additional classroom for a fourth mainstream teacher was not approved as the school planning area, within which the school referred to is located, has not been identified as an area of demographic growth. The Department considers that there are sufficient primary school places in the school planning area to meet pupil demand and, in that context, the application for additional accommodation was not approved.

While my Department will keep the enrolment position in the planning area under review, it is important that school size is monitored and that a balance is preserved among all schools in school planning areas to ensure that one school is not expanding at the expense of another school.

In that context, my Department has suggested to the school that it use its available accommodation to meet immediate accommodation requirements.