Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I can confirm that the school in question has applied under the Additional Schools' Accommodation (ASA) scheme for replacement of a prefab. Following an initial assessment a potential need for additional accommodation was identified.

As part of its overall programme planning for 2024 school accommodation needs, the Department is now examining enrolment data from the current school year and data on accommodation capacity at schools. This is in order to reassess and identify critical accommodation requirements for the next school year, with a view to advancing these to formal approval stage.

In general, demographics have been falling at primary level and are due to continue to decrease. Therefore the Department considers it prudent to maximise the use of existing spare accommodation capacity at primary level in the first instance, before considering any applications for further accommodation needs. This includes ensuring that all school accommodation is being utilised as efficiently as possible, and that priority is given to the use of accommodation for classroom purposes, either to meet mainstream or special educational needs. This analysis is forming part of the Department’s current assessment process and is in line with public spending requirements.

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. It is not, therefore, possible to give an indication at this point in time of the timeframe for the provision of additional accommodation at the school. I can only seek to assure you that we will advance this matter as quickly as possible.