Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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130. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he has received correspondence and-or an application for capital funding for a hall for a national school (details supplied); his plans to contribute to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46794/19]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that an application for a sports hall has been received from the school authority in question. 

As you are aware the National Development Plan (NDP) provides for an €8.4 billion investment in school buildings over the period 2018 to 2027 to deliver on NDP and National Planning Framework objectives through addressing the twin priorities of catering for demographics and ensuring a strengthened focus on refurbishment of existing school stock.  The announcement 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 immediate priority is to provide 20,000 new and replacement school places each year, to ensure that every child has a school place.  My Department is not in a position, at this point, to consider the request from Glynn National School for a Sports Hall. The school have been informed of this decision. The request will however be retained on file for future consideration.