Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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749. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the recent communications and application for additional accommodation by a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39088/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to confirm to the Deputy that my Department is in receipt of an application from the school in question under the Department's Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme.

The purpose of my Department’s ASA scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream classroom accommodation and accommodation for pupils with special education needs is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year, where the need cannot be met by the school’s existing accommodation.

The main focus of my Department’s resources over the last decade and for the coming period is on provision of critical additional capacity to cater for increasing demographics. However, my Department is working towards an increasing focus on the upgrade and refurbishment of the existing school stock, with particular focus on climate action goals.

In relation to the school in question, due to the nature of the site, a site visit was undertaken by the Department's Technical team in May 2023. There are particular challenges with this school site and my Department is currently assessing the options with a view to identifying the optimum solution for the school. Once this has been finalized we will be in a position to issue a proposed brief to the school.