Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

219. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to a situation between two schools (details supplied); if the matter will be examined and an agreeable solution for both schools implemented in the short term; if an additional school hall space will be made available in the long term; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23817/24]

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

I can confirm to the Deputy, that my Department has received an application for capital funding, under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme, from the primary 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.

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.

I can assure the Deputy that the provision of required school places, including for children with special educational needs, is a priority for my Department and 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 School Planning Area for future years.

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 rental accommodation had been approved for the primary school in question and it is awaiting the connection of the necessary utilities before it can be used by the school. This is a matter for the accommodation provider to rectify and the school are working with them on the issue.

Furthermore, officials from my Department's Professional and Technical Section have visited both schools to consider a solution that can be put in place. The Department hopes to resolve this matter for the benefit of both schools as soon as possible and will remain in contact with the school authorities of both schools in relation to this matter.