Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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507. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the details of plans for the amalgamation of three secondary schools (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12896/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department approved the amalgamation of the three post primary schools, in question, following lenghty discussions with the relevant Patron bodies.

One of the schools referred to has been chosen as the future location for the newly amalgamated school. My Department recently approved a large capital project under the Additional School Accommodation Scheme and this has been agreed and devolved to the school authority for delivery. The three schools will continue to operate from their existing school sites until this additional accommodation has been delivered which has also been agreed by the relevant Patron bodies.

Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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508. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the details of the budget for the amalgamation of three secondary schools (details supplied); if provision is being made for the inclusion of a new gym, canteen and car parking facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12897/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has approved a significant capital project, under the Additional School Accommodation Scheme for the amalgamation in question. My Department has approved the following accommodation:

6 x 58m² Mainstream classrooms

3 x 15m² SET rooms

2 x Science laboratories and shared prep area

1 x Home Economics room

1 x Textiles room

1 x Art room

1 x Techology room and prep area

1 x DCG/Tech Graps room

2 Class SEN Base

This project has been agreed and devolved to the school authority for delivery. Due to commercial sensitivities the budget cannot be released. The brief does not include a new PE Hall, GP dining or car parking facilities as such accommodation does not fall under the remit of the Additional School Accommodation Scheme. The patrons of the three schools, in question, were informed of the parameters of the Additional School Accommodation Scheme at the time of application and agreed to proceed with the project brief.

The immediate priority of my Department is providing 20,000 new and replacement school places each year, to ensure that every child has access to a physical school place.

As the Deputy is aware, 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.

Under Project Ireland 2040, we will invest €8.4 billion in primary and post primary school buildings. The government is committed to a PE Hall build and modernisation programme, starting in the second half of the Project Ireland 2040 period.

It is open to the school patron to apply for ancillary accommodation, if required, under form SLE which is available at www.education.ie, this application will be considered under future rounds of major capital funding.