Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

567. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps that a school (details supplied) should take to apply for additional accommodation following its designation of DEIS status; if a previously approved additional accommodation application can be combined with a new application for additional accommodation in order to progress a complete project in one application rather than progressing two separate projects; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15097/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The purpose of the Additional Schools Accommodation (ASA) scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream and special education classroom accommodation is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year and where the need cannot be met by the school’s existing accommodation.

This situation can arise where an additional teaching post has been sanctioned by Teacher Allocation Section and all available alternative accommodation within the school is already being used for classroom purposes or where a major building project is in the pipeline and an immediate short term accommodation problem has arisen. As soon as the Board of Management becomes aware that additional school accommodation will be required, they should complete the ASA application form immediately.

I can confirm that my Department's officials have engaged with the school authority in this context and have received an application under the ASA scheme in the past few days. The application will be considered in light of any ongoing projects and an appropriate decision will issue directly to the school authority in due course.