Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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188. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if an application by a school (details supplied) for additional accommodation is still under consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37259/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy has submitted an application to my Department for a PE Hall.

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 post primary schools.

The announcement on 14 September last of the €11.9 billion investment in education as part of Project Ireland 2040 referred to the commitment to a PE Hall build and modernisation programme in post primary schools, starting in the second half of the Project Ireland 2040 period. The application from the school referred to by the Deputy remains available to be considered in this context.

Under the Ireland Project 2040, €8.4 billion will be invested (compared to €4.9 billion in the previous decade) in primary and post primary school buildings.