James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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184. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the confirmed date for delivery and installation of an approved modular building for a school (details supplied) which is required to facilitate a previously approved ASD class, due to open in September 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5288/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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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 for 1 x Mainstream classroom modular and the school authority has subsequently requested that this modular be changed to provide 1 x 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 Department’s Modular Accommodation Programme is an important mechanism for facilitating accelerated delivery of necessary additional capacity – including in relation to special classes. However, as part of maximising existing capacity and managing within budgetary parameters this is targeted at schools where there is no existing capacity in the general area to facilitate the establishment of urgently required special classes.

A key focus of the Department is the utilisation of existing accommodation at schools to provide facilities for special classes. This approach supports accelerated delivery of the accommodation and provision which is well integrated within the mainstream school accommodation. It is consistent with the Department’s commitment to supporting the educational needs of children who require specialist placements while at the same time meeting the requirements of the Government’s Infrastructure Guidelines.

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.

In planning for school place requirements and ensuring best use of limited resources, it is very important that capacity in existing schools and across a town or area is maximised to the greatest extent possible. This analysis is done as part of the Department’s assessment of applications for additional accommodation from individual schools.

Officials in my Department will be in contact with the school the school authority directly regarding the ASA application.

James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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185. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an additional accommodation scheme application lodged by a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5293/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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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.

The Department's focus is on the most critical needs for the next school year and how each individual school’s accommodation can be best utilised and at capacity across schools in each school planning 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 consideration of the accommodation requirements for the school in question forms part of the Planning and Building Unit’s overall assessment of it's work programme and priorities in the context of available capital funding.

The Deputy will be aware that my Department has broadened its delivery streams and is utilising Modern Methods of Construction, including Modular Accommodation, as well as traditional construction delivery methods. Modular accommodation has particular advantages in terms of overall timelines and also climate impact in that they generally use decarbonised heating sources

The Department has a significant modular accommodation programme in place to assist schools in the provision of additional capacity, including in respect of facilitating the establishment of special classes.

This programme involves the use of Project Management supports which is designed to enable the accommodation to be provided as quickly as possible and help ease the administrative workload for school authorities in relation to the management and delivery of projects.

The use of the Department’s Modular Accommodation Framework also assists in ensuring lead in periods for procurement of modular accommodation are minimised to the greatest extent possible.

I can confirm that the offer of modular accommodation was accepted by the school authorities and my department appointed a project manager, under the Project Manager Framework.

The project manager was tasked with providing a viability report for the brief of accommodation to be delivered. The viability report was reviewed and approved by Department officials, and this is currently with the school for consideration.

Officials in my Department have continued to engage with the school throughout the process and remain available to the school authority regarding any further queries