Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

91. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will give urgent consideration to a review of specifications for school accommodation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28438/24]

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

I wish to assure the Deputy that the provision of appropriate accommodation for pupils with special education needs is an absolute priority for my Department. In order to make accommodation provision to meet the needs of students with special education requirements, my Department has close engagement with the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) which has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children nationwide.

The Department continues to engage with NCSE in relation to special classes that have been sanctioned for September 2024 to confirm critical classes where accommodation is required while also considering the more strategic and longer-term requirements. The Department engages intensely with the NCSE in relation to the forward planning of new special classes and additional special school places. This work involves a detailed review of statistical data in relation to forecasting demand for special class places, an analysis of available school accommodation, consideration of improved data sharing arrangements and a particular focus on the provision of special classes at post-primary level.

Since 2020, my Department has invested in the region of €4.9 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 900 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.

I also recently announced that close to 90 projects, including 28 new school buildings, would be authorised to proceed from tender stage to construction over the course of 2024 and early 2025. In total, around €800 million will be invested in these projects under the Department’s Large Scale Capital Programme and Additional Accommodation Scheme for essential classroom accommodation.

Between projects currently under construction and projects moving to construction in this latest phase, investments by the Department of Education are adding over 550,000 square metres of new and modernised capacity to our school estate.

This is a record level of investment in school buildings. It will expand the number of school places, significantly increase provision for special education and upgrade and modernise our school infrastructure. The impact of this will be felt in communities right around the country.

The Department provides funding, under the Additional School Accommodation Scheme, for reconfiguration of available rooms in a school to accommodate a special class or classes. Funding is also available under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme for additional accommodation, if required by a school to accommodate a special class.

The Deputy will appreciate that the immediate priority of my Department is continued strong delivery to support the operation of the school system on provision of additional capacity to cater for increasing demographics particularly at post-primary level and for special education needs provision. My Department has no plans to amend the specification for central activity spaces for special classes.