Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
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163. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a school in County Carlow (details supplied) will receive the funding for two modular classrooms that it was granted in June 2023, but is still being processed. [4923/24]

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 the Additional Schools Accommodation (ASA) 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.

The Deputy will be aware that my Department has broadened its delivery streams and is utilising Modern Methods of Construction, including Modular Accommodation, as well as traditional construction delivery methods. Modular accommodation has particular advantages in terms of overall timelines and also climate impact in that they generally use decarbonised heating sources.

In overall terms, it is important to have a range of delivery mechanisms for delivering school accommodation to support the current very strong and ambitious roll out of school building projects. This is particular relevant given the overall challenging construction sector market. A number of factors are considered by my Department in determining the most appropriate construction method to meet a school’s accommodation requirements, including the timing and duration of that accommodation need, and other school-specific factors.

My officials are continuing to assess the requirement for additional permanent accommodation for Newtown Dunleckney National School and in consideration to the educational requirements of the area more broadly. Engagement between the school authorities and my department are continuing in this regard.

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The school referred to by the Deputy was granted approval under my Department’s Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme for 11 general classrooms, 3 SET rooms, 1 multimedia room, 1 textiles room, 1 science lab/prep area, and a 2 classroom SEN base. An additional SEN base was also subsequently approved.

The project is devolved for delivery to Mayo Sligo and Leitrim ETB (MSLETB).

My Department was informed that MSLETB and the school design team are in the process of acquiring an additional site in order to progress this project. Progress on the additional school accommodation scheme is dependent on this being finalised.

My Department will continue to engage with the ETB to progress this important project.