Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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151. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of accommodation in a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34233/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that the Department made arrangements to refurbish a property for the school in question during the summer and the school relocated to this property recently.

A major capital project for the provision of permanent accommodation for the school is being addressed through the Department's Capital Programme.

The Department proposes to master plan a 12 acre site owned by the ETB to demonstrate how the accommodation needs of the school, as well as the existing education provider on the site, could potentially be met, which will be mutually beneficial for both parties. The draft plan is well advanced at this point.

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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152. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a decision will be made in relation to an application by a school (details supplied) for the additional accommodation scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34234/20]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I can confirm to the Deputy, that my Department is in receipt of applications from the school in question, for major capital funding for the provision of a PE hall and also for capital funding under the Additional School Accommodation Scheme.

My Department's current priority within the limited funding available, is the provision of essential classroom accommodation in areas where significant demographic need has been established to ensure that each child will have access to a physical school place. Therefore, all applications for capital funding must be considered in this context.

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 schools.

I can confirm that a devolved grant was approved in November 2017, under the Additional School Accommodation Scheme, to enable the school authority to provide 1 additional SET room. This project is currently devolved to the school authority.

A further application has recently been received under the Additional School Accommodation Scheme and once the application has been assessed, the school authority will be contacted directly with a decision.