Jen Cummins (Dublin South Central, Social Democrats)
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410. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on the roll out of prefab replacement programmes for primary schools; the number of schools currently on the waiting list; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25139/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I can confirm to the Deputy that my department currently does not have a prefab replacement programme in place for primary schools and as such no waiting list exists.

My department is taking an integrated approach through the replacement of prefabs as part of large-scale and devolved projects or as part of new projects approved under the Additional Accommodation Scheme. This integrated approach helps to streamline the delivery of projects for schools.

It is open to a school authority to make an application for additional accommodation through the 'Additional School Accommodation scheme (ASA)' which is available at gov.ie (www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/services/additional-accommodation-scheme/) Additional accommodation scheme.

The purpose of the ASA scheme is to ensure that essential classroom/special education accommodation is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year and where the need cannot be met by the school’s existing accommodation.