Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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731.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on an additional accommodation application for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32260/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to advise the Deputy, that my department has no current record of receiving an application for under the department's additional school accommodation (ASA) scheme from the school in question.

The purpose of the ASA scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream classroom and Special Education Needs (SEN) accommodation is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year, where the need cannot be met by the school’s existing accommodation.

With regard to the school's major project, my department can confirm that the Stage 2b architectural report has been received and reviewed by my department. Following the outcome of this review, I am very pleased to advise that officials in my department very recently reverted to the school authority and instructed them directly in relation to the next steps to progress this significant project.

Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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732.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application for additional accommodation for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32266/24]

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, from the 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 or at other schools in the area.

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 National Council for Special Education (NCSE), and all available alternative accommodation within the school is already being used for classroom purposes. The capacity at other schools in the area is also considered as part of the assessment of any accommodation needs.

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.

School building projects at construction involve an overall State investment of over €1.2 billion. We also have a large modular accommodation programme delivering urgently needed school places. This is a record level of investment in our schools and highlights the Government’s very strong track record of delivery in providing additional capacity and modern facilities for our school communities.

This is a record level of investment in our schools and highlights the Government’s very strong track record of delivery in providing additional capacity and modern facilities for our school communities.

Officials in my Department recently contacted the school regarding outstanding documents required for the assessment process. Once this information is received, the application from the school in question will be considered.

As soon as the assessment process has been finalised, the school authority will be notified of the decision directly.

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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733.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application for additional accommodation for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32267/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I can confirm to the Deputy, that the school in question had submitted an application for capital funding, under my Department's Additional School Accommodation Scheme for 1x Modular special education needs classroom.

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 or at other schools in the area.

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 National Council for Special Education (NCSE), and all available alternative accommodation within the school is already being used for classroom purposes. The capacity at other schools in the area is also considered as part of the assessment of any accommodation needs.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has the responsibility for planning and coordinating school supports for children with special educational needs.

The Department engages intensely with the NCSE in relation to the forward planning of new special classes and additional special school places. Planning for school place requirements in special classes and special schools for the coming 2024/25 school year is now largely concluded with just a few remaining special classes to be approved. 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.

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 is in line with public spending requirements. In relation to the provision of primary special classes, the shared preference of both the Department and the NCSE is to use and reconfigure existing school accommodation to provide special classes. Given the number of primary special classes available already and the falling demographics, it is also likely that most of the new additional special classes may be required in larger population centres in a local school planning area.

To date, it has not been confirmed by the NCSE regional team that a class is required at the school in question for the school year 2024/25 and in that context the application for additional accommodation has not been approved. The school has received correspondence from the Planning and Building Unit to this effect.