Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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105. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if there are initiatives to promote the switch of any of the single-sex schools at primary level to co-educational in a school planning area (details supplied) or in the adjoining school planning areas; the supports which her Department offers to facilitate such a switch; and if the lack of a co-educational option in a school planning area can be a reason for planning additional accommodation. [10424/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy may be aware, the decision-making authority in respect of the status of existing schools, including whether they are single or mixed gender, belongs to the Patron, subject to the agreement of my Department.

New schools which are established by my Department to meet demographic need (primary and post-primary) are mixed gender in nature. Co-educational schools provide greater flexibility than single sex schools in terms of meeting demographic and school accommodation requirements in an area. Single-gender provision may, however, be made if there is an identified imbalance between the capacities of single-gender schools in the area.

Under Project Ireland 2040, my Department continues to make progress to increase the infrastructural capacity in the schools sector, in order to meet demographic and other demands.

The Capital Programme details the school projects that are being progressed under Project Ireland 2040. The current status of large-scale projects being delivered under Project Ireland 2040 may be viewed on my Department's website, at www.gov.ie, and this information is updated regularly. In addition, a list of large-scale projects completed from 2010 to date may also be viewed on the website.

The Capital Programme also provides for devolved funding for additional classrooms, including accommodation for pupils with special educational needs, if required, for schools where an additional enrolment need has been identified or where an additional teacher has been appointed. Schools approved for co-education can apply under this scheme for funding for toilets to facilitate the change of status.