Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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54. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the Department are currently developing plans to amalgamate two schools (details supplied) onto a greenfield site which can cater for current and future demand, as Westmeath County Council have identified a suitable site in the current county development Plan. [26192/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I can confirm to the Deputy, that my Department received a request to amalgamate, from the schools in question, in June 2022.

In March 2023, the school authorities were advised that the Department had no objection to the amalgamation, contingent on no capital funding being provided. The school authorities advised that their Boards of Management would give further consideration to the issue and revert to the Department in due course. However, to date there has been no correspondence from the school in relation to the matter.

I wish to advise the Deputy, that funding was provided for the provision of 1 x Special Education Modular Classroom, under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme, for one of the schools in question in 2023. The modular accommodation has been delivered on site and the class has since opened.