James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

46. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will outline the expected timeline for an appointment of a project manager on an application for the feasibility study under the additional school accommodation scheme, from a school (details supplied) that has issues with spaces within the school and the lack of expansion for classrooms, SET Rooms, toilets and play areas; if her Department is examining the possibility of moving the school to a green field site due to the lack of capacity for expansion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4411/24]

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

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.

I can confirm that the Department is in receipt of an application, under the Additional School Accommodation scheme, for the school to which the Deputy refers. The purpose of the Additional School Accommodation 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 or by other schools in the area.

The consideration of the accommodation requirements for the school in question forms part of the Planning and Building Unit’s overall assessment of its work programme and priorities in the context of available capital funding.

The provision of required school places, including for children with special educational needs, is a priority for my Department. My officials are working to ensure that there is sufficient provision to meet the school place needs in the school in question and the wider area for 2024/25 and future years.

In the context of making the most effective use of our capital allocation, and mindful of climate action goals, we are working to make sure that all school accommodation capacity is being maximised. We are looking at how each individual school's accommodation can be best utilised and at capacity across schools in each school planning area.

With this in mind and due to the complexities of the site at this school, the file of the school in question has been transferred to the Department’s technical team to undertake a feasibility study. The feasibility study will examine all aspects of the proposed project including the current school site and the current and future accommodation needs of the school. When the study is complete an update will issue directly to the school.

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

I wish to advise the Deputy that in order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System, using data from a range of sources, including Child Benefit and school enrolment data, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise, and where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary level.

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. The Department is required to manage the overall school building programme so that we target and prioritise areas that are under greatest pressure for additional school places. This reflects our fundamental objective of ensuring the availability of a school place for every child.

I can confirm that an application for additional school accommodation (ASA) was received in the Department and based on the school having sufficient permanent and temporary accommodation in place, the ASA was refused.

The purpose of the ASA scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream classroom and Special Education Needs, or SEN, accommodation is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year, where the need cannot be met by the school’s existing accommodation.

It is open to the school in question to submit an application for the Department's ASA scheme if there is a change to their enrolments which cannot be managed within the existing building. Any application will be considered by my officials and a decision conveyed directly to the school authorities.