Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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151. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will consider an additional accommodation application made by a school (details supplied). [27632/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that the school in question was approved a brief of accommodation to deliver 1x Science Lab & prep area: 1x Tech Graphics/DCG room & tech prep, 1x Construction Studies & project store and 1x Music and toilets. This is currently at stage 2b with the Departments delivery area.

I can confirm to the Deputy, that my Department has very recently received a further application under the Additional Schools' Accommodation (ASA) scheme from the school in question for a PE hall and mainstream accommodation.

Investment and expenditure on PE Halls is an element of the overall School Building Programme. The provision of GP rooms and PE Halls, at primary and post primary level respectively, and outdoor hard play areas, form part of the accommodation brief for all new school buildings. This is also the case where a major building or refurbishment project is being delivered for an existing school.

Almost 95% of the post primary schools that made 2020 Annual Schools Returns have indicated to the Department that they either have a PE Hall, access to a nearby PE Hall, or a project in train that will deliver a new PE Hall. Practically all schools have outdoor play areas and many schools use adjacent local facilities, including community halls, public parks, playing fields and swimming pools.

The purpose of the 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 or by available accommodation at other schools in the area. A request for a PE Hall does not come within the remit of the ASA scheme.

Since 2020, my department has invested in the region of €4.8 billion in schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 800 school building projects and with construction currently underway at approximately 300 other projects, which includes 30 new school buildings. These 300 projects currently at construction involve a total State investment of over €1.2bn.

A future strengthened focus on refurbishment of existing school stock will have different strands and will include a PE build and modernisation programme which will enable students in post-primary schools to have access to appropriate facilities to support PE provision, particularly also in the context of the roll-out of PE as a leaving-certificate subject. Enhanced and modernised PE facilities will also provide important amenities for local communities.

However, the main focus of the Department’s capital funding over the last decade and for the coming period is on provision of critical additional capacity to cater for increasing demographics and children with special education needs.

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 the Department’s fundamental objective of ensuring the availability of a school place for every child.

The overall position with regard to potential modernisation and replacement of existing school infrastructure will be kept under review as capital funding allocations for future years are clarified.

I can advise the Deputy that the school's application for mainstream accommodation is currently under assessment. Once the assessment process is complete the school authority will be contacted directly.