Noel McCarthy (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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316. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on an additional school accommodation application for a school (details supplied) given the increased enrolment projected for the forthcoming school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22918/25]

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 funding from the school in question. This application for temporary accommodation is being assessed under the department's Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme.

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, where the need cannot be met by the school’s existing accommodation or by available accommodation 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.

In County Cork alone, in the period 2020 – 2025, the department has invested €685 million on projects in construction, projects in the pipeline and on completions. There were 156 projects completed in Cork in the period 2020 to 2025 and there are currently 27 projects in construction. There are an additional 40 projects at various stages of detailed design and there are a further 13 modular projects at an advanced stage of delivery.

Again, I wish to advise the Deputy that the school's ASA application is currently being assessed. My officials have and will continue to engage with the school and will endeavour to make a decision on the ASA application as soon as possible.

Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)
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317. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the up-to-date position regarding funding for a school project for additional accommodation for ASD units for the new school year (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22928/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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This school was approved under the Additional School Accommodation Scheme 2022 to provide one mainstream classroom. The project has been devolved for delivery to the School Authority.

The school proceeded to Stage 2b (planning) without the mandatory departmental approval. The school were advised of this by the Department and asked to submit their estimated cost plan for review. Comments issued from a technical and cost perspective in April 2024. The school were asked to resubmit planning drawings and a planning report incorporating recommendations made by the Department prior to submitting a new planning application.

More recently the school advised that they are developing a new design to take account of the Department comments and to minimise circulation. The department now awaits a revised report for review.

There is currently no application on hand for a Special Educational Needs (SEN) base for this school under the additional school accommodation scheme.