Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I can confirm to the Deputy, that my Department is in receipt of an application for capital funding, under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme.

The purpose of my Department’s Additional School Accommodation (or 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.

At primary level, this situation generally arises to cater for a school’s accommodation requirements where an additional teaching post has been sanctioned by Teacher Allocation Section, or the requirement for a new class for pupils with special education needs has been identified by the NCSE, and all available alternative accommodation within the school is already being used for classroom purposes.

I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department is liaising with the school patron regarding options for primary provision in the Loughrea area.

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The school to which the Deputy refers, was granted funding under my Department's Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme for the provision of 19 general classrooms, 7 SET rooms, 2 meeting rooms, 1 DP office, 3 classroom SEN base, 1 art room, 1 home economics room, 1 graphics room, 3 science labs, 2 prep areas, 1 construction studies, prep area, 1 engineering room, 1 tech prep room, 3 project stores, 1 staff room, 1 GP/dining area along with alterations to existing building and accommodation to be delivered once the standalone building is converted to a PE hall, use of which includes a fitness suite and storage.

A Stage 1/2A report was submitted and reviewed by my Department's Professional and Technical team. Subsequently, comments arising from this review issued to the school along with approval to proceed to the planning stage.

Whilst this project has been devolved to the school authority for delivery, the Department is engaged directly with the school to provide whatever practical assistance and advice is necessary to implement this important project for the wider school community.

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has no current record of receiving an application for additional accommodation from the school in question.

The purpose of my Department’s Additional School Accommodation (or 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.

At primary level, this situation generally arises to cater for a school’s accommodation requirements where an additional teaching post has been sanctioned by Teacher Allocation Section, or the requirement for a new class for pupils with special education needs has been identified by the NCSE, and all available alternative accommodation within the school is already being used for classroom purposes.

All school capital projects that have been approved, by my Department, under the Additional School Accommodation Scheme (ASA), may be viewed on my Department’s website, www.education.ie, which is updated regularly.