Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

206. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 183 of 8 April 2025, if she will provide clarification on the four prefabs at a school (details supplied); when they will be replaced, as the school has informed me that they have not received any information from the Department regarding the replacement of prefabs, that they know nothing about any design team or issues; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22590/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I can confirm to the Deputy, that the department is in receipt of an application for the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme, from the school authority in question.

The purpose of the ASA scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream classroom and Special Education Needs (SEN) accommodation is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year, when 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 €5.9 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 1,350 school building projects. Between projects currently under construction and projects moving to construction in the coming months, investments by the Department of Education are adding over 610,000 square metres of new and modernised capacity to our school estate. This is a record level of investment in school buildings. It will expand the number of school places, significantly increase provision for special education and upgrade and modernise our school infrastructure.The impact of this will be felt in communities right around the country.

The Programme for Government recognises the importance of strong capital investment in the school building programme and supporting this with enhanced allocations through the NDP process.

I can confirm that the school's application is being considered by my officials and they have been in contact with the school authority in relation to this application. My officials remain available to work with the school authorities throughout this process. I can assure the Deputy that the application will be progressed as soon as possible and an official decision will issue to the school authorities directly.