Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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59. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a school (details supplied) can construct an additional classroom to be attached to the school in lieu of a standalone classroom approved in which planning permission is in place and the costs are defined and the play space is confined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22386/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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In January my Department gave grant approval to the school in question for an 80m² Mainstream Classroom under the additional schools' accommodation scheme. The purpose of this scheme is to ensure that essential classroom accommodation is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year where the need cannot be met by the school’s existing accommodation.

A condition of this grant approval was that the classroom be a permanent standalone structure, as otherwise a fire safety certificate and disability access certificate would need to be obtained for the whole school building; potentially increasing costs and delays in the project's delivery.

However, it is open for the schools to make submissions to attach the approved structure as part of the design process, and my department's officials will consider these submissions once they are made. The project to which the Deputy refers is currently at the preliminary stages, and when the school have appointed a design consultant they can make this submission to my Department as part of their preliminary design.