Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
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354. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on an application for additional school accommodation; the stage of the process the application is at (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42770/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I can confirm to the Deputy, that my Department has an application for capital funding, under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme, from the school authority 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.

Since 2020, the department has invested over €5 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 950 school building projects and with construction currently underway at approximately 350 other projects, which includes 37 new school buildings. These 350 projects currently at construction involve a total State investment of over €1.5bn.

I can confirm that my officials have been engaging with the school authorities in relation to progressing their application as a permanent build project. I am pleased to confirm that a brief letter of offer has issued to the school authorities and they have accepted same. The project is now ready to progress to the final stage of the assessment process.