Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)
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1200. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding an application for capital funding under the additional school accommodation scheme for a post primary school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43071/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that approval has issued to the school authority in question under the Additional School Accommodation Scheme for the provision of two Special Educational Needs Classrooms (SEN).

The project is being delivered under the Department’s Devolved SEN Reconfiguration and Modular Accommodation programme. The Department has a significant modular accommodation programme in place to assist schools in the provision of additional capacity, including in respect of facilitating the establishment of special classes. This programme involves the use of Project Management supports which is designed to enable the accommodation to be provided as quickly as possible and help ease the administrative workload for school authorities in relation to the management and delivery of projects.

Kerrigan Sheanan Newman Construction Consultants (KSN) has been appointed, from the Department’s Framework to design and tender the project. This consultant will lead the project through the various stages of planning process and construction. Due to the scale of the proposed accommodation a full planning application is necessary. I can confirm that the project manager submitted the planning application to the local authority on the 1st July 2025 following completion of design. The outcome of the planning application will determine the building programme.

My department is fully aware of the urgency in respect of this accommodation and will be working with the school authority to keep it updated on overall project delivery and timelines. The school authority has devolved responsibility for delivery of this project.