Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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135. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if there is a record in his Department for a school (details supplied) applying to be included in a sports hall building programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14411/19]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department received an application, from the school in question, for capital funding to build a Sports Hall.

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 schools.

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 focus in the medium will be on the provision of PE halls in post-primary schools.