Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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414. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the degree to which constant re-evaluation takes place throughout north County Kildare with a view to replacement of obsolete school buildings with permanent modern accommodation in accordance with the requirements as set out by the school authorities and mindful of the demographic challenges facing the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20141/19]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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Under project Ireland 2040, the Department continues to make progress to increase the infrastructural capacity in the schools sector, in order to meet demographic and other demands throughout the country including north Co. Kildare and this is kept under on-going review and in particular will have regard for the increased roll-out of housing provision as outlined in Project Ireland 2040. The 2019 school building capital allocation is €622 m.

As the Deputy is aware the announcement in April 2018 of plans for the establishment of 42 new schools over the next four years (2019-2022), including a new primary school to provide additional school capacity in Naas, County Kildare. This announcement follows nationwide demographic exercises carried out by the Department into the future need for primary and post-primary schools across the country.