Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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312. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if there is an appeals mechanism in place with regard to a school's application for additional school accommodation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41463/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I can confirm to the Deputy that there is an appeals mechanism in relation to decisions under the Additional Schools Accommodation (ASA) Scheme.

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 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.

The Department’s Planning and Building Unit is therefore carefully analysing the medium to longer-term requirements for additional accommodation taking account of enrolment projections and the need to make optimum use of existing capacity in schools in the area.

Furthermore provision of a new school or a new GP hall does not fall under the remit of the current Additional Schools' Accommodation Scheme.

The main focus of resources over the last decade and for the coming period is on provision of additional capacity to cater for increasing demographics particularly at post-primary level and for special education needs provision. The Deputy will appreciate that the immediate priority of my Department is providing new and replacement school places each year, to ensure that every child has a school place.

However, the second half of the National Development Plan period will see an increasing focus on the upgrade and refurbishment of the existing school stock. This will include a PE Hall build and modernisation programme to ensure that students in all post-primary schools have access to appropriate facilities to support PE provision. The ancillary accommodation needs of primary schools, such as General Purpose rooms will also be considered.

I can confirm to the Deputy that it is open to the Board of Management of the school in question to send a letter to the Accommodation Needs Assessment Section at Portlaoise Road, Clonminch, Tullamore, Co. Offaly appealing the aforesaid decision. The school has also been advised of additional funding streams available to them on foot of their ASA application.