Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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568.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on a roof replacement application under the additional school accommodation scheme for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter.[34598/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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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.

I can confirm to the Deputy, that we are in receipt of an application for the ASA scheme from the school in question. A proposed brief of accommodation has recently issued to the school. Officials in my Department await a reply to the proposed brief of accommodation.

The provision of required school places, including for children with special educational needs, is a priority for my Department. 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

Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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569.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the prefabricated classroom which has been applied for in March 2023 for a school (details supplied) in Donegal town; and if she will make a statement on the matter.[34603/24]

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 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 at other schools in the area.

In the context of making most effective use of our capital allocation, and mindful of climate action goals, Department officials are working to make sure that all school accommodation capacity is being maximised.

The provision of required school places including for children with special education needs is a priority for the Department. I can assure the school that Department officials are working to ensure that there is sufficient provision to meet the school place needs in the school in question and the wider area for 2024/25 and future years.