James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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275. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if an application by a school (details supplied) for a new building will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30991/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that the school was advised in August 2016 that my Department is not in a position to provide funding for a school hall due to the necessity to prioritise funding for essential classroom accommodation to meet demographic need.

The Deputy will be aware that under the National Development Plan (NDP), increased funding has been provided for the school sector capital investment programme. This funding allows for a continued focus on the provision of new permanent school places to keep pace with demographic demand and also provides for an additional focus on the refurbishment of existing school buildings to include the building and modernisation of PE facilities in primary and post-primary schools.

Under the Ireland Project 2040, we will invest €8.4 billion (compared to €4.9 billion in the previous decade) in primary and post primary school buildings. This will include the provision of 50 large scale school building projects and 20,000 school places in state of the art new buildings.

The immediate priority of my Department is providing 20,000 new and replacement school places each year, to ensure that every child has a school place. The government will focus in the medium term on the provision of PE facilities in schools. 

I also wish to advise the Deputy that my Department recently approved grant to the school for a mainstream classroom and 2 special needs rooms.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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276. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application by a school (details supplied); the contact which has been had with the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31023/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that a building project for the school to which he refers is included in my Department's Capital Programme.

My Department is currently finalising the project brief with the aim of progressing the project into the architectural planning process. My Department will be in direct contact with the school's patron in this regard.