Written answers
Tuesday, 26 April 2022
Department of Education and Skills
School Facilities
Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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905. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will confirm receipt of an application for grant aid for major capital works from a school (details supplied); if her Department has had the opportunity to consider the detail of this application particularly around the capacity of the school to comply with child protection protocols in the existing school circumstances; when her Department will be in a position to signal approval for this project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20360/22]
Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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907. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will confirm receipt of an application for a general purpose and physical education hall from a school (details supplied) in County Cork; when her Department expects to be in a position to consider and adjudicate on this application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20370/22]
Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 905 and 907 together.
I can confirm to the Deputy, that my Department is in receipt of an application, for the Additional School Accommodation Scheme (ASA), from the school in question.
The main focus of resources over the last decade and for the coming period is on provision of additional capacity to cater for increasing demographics particularly at post-primary level and for special education needs provision. The Deputy will appreciate that the immediate priority of my Department is providing new and replacement school places each year, to ensure that every child has a school place.
However, the second half of the National Development Plan period will see an increasing focus on the upgrade and refurbishment of the existing school stock. This will include a PE Hall build and modernisation programme to ensure that students in all post-primary schools have access to appropriate facilities to support PE provision. The ancillary accommodation needs of primary schools, such as General Purpose rooms will also be considered.
Officials from my Department have advised the school in question regarding the position concerning the General Purpose room and are corresponding with the school authority regarding the other aspects of the application. Once the assessment is completed, a final decision will issue to the school authority directly.
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