Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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281. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for the up-to-date position on additional classroom accommodation for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10502/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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My department is in receipt of an application, under the Additional Schools' Accommodation (ASA) scheme, from the school to which the deputy refers.

The purpose of the Additional Schools' Accommodation 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.

Since 2020, my department has invested over €5.7 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 1,150 school building projects and with construction currently underway at approximately 300 other projects, which includes new school buildings some of which are being delivered in phases. These 300 projects currently at construction involve a total State investment of over €1.3bn.

The main focus of my Department’s resources over the last decade and for the coming period is on provision of critical additional capacity to cater for increasing demographics and special education provision.

The consideration of the accommodation requirements for the school in question forms part of the Planning and Building Unit’s overall assessment of its work programme and priorities in the context of available capital funding.

I can assure the deputy that the provision of required school places, including for children with special educational needs, is a priority for my department and 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.

I can confirm that the school's application for additional school accommodation is currently being assessed in this context and my department will be in further contact with the school shortly.