Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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217. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will engage with a school (details supplied) in relation to the official shared campus arrangement where the school is located; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26493/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Officials from my Department are aware of the agreement that is in place between the parties operating on this site, that were agreed upon at a local level many years ago.

The Department of Education and Youth supports and encourages the use of school buildings for community and recreational purposes, where feasible, including childcare and after school uses.

The decision on the use of a school property is a matter for the school management taking into considerations the requirements of the school, students and staff. It is important that any proposed arrangement does not impede upon the future development of the school, given that the priority for school management is educational provision for its pupils.

Procedures on the use of school property and school sports facilities outside of schools hours were published by my Department in June 2024 and provides information for school management on the use of school facilities.

John Connolly (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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218. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the application for additional accommodation for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26512/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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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.

I can confirm that my department is in receipt of an application, under the Additional School Accommodation scheme, from the school in question. The purpose of the Additional School 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 by other schools in the area.

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.

The provision of required school places, including for children with special educational needs, is a priority for my department. 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 area for 2025/26 and future years.

In the context of making the most effective use of our capital allocation, and mindful of climate action goals, we are working to make sure that all school accommodation capacity is being maximised. We are looking at how each individual school's accommodation can be best utilised and at capacity across schools in each school planning area.

This application is currently under consideration. When a final decision has been reached it will be communicated by my department to the school authorities.