Ann Graves (Dublin Fingal East, Sinn Fein)
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234. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will ensure that a school (details supplied) is allocated €75,000 to cover the cost of modernisation of school facilities. [49401/25]

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 the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme from the school in question.

The accommodation being considered by my officials is to cater for 2 Special education classes. I can confirm that my officials have been engaging with the school directly and will continue to do so with a view to providing the approved 2 Special education classrooms as soon as practicable. This accommodation is being delivered through the Department’s Project Manager Framework.

The main focus of my Department’s capital funding over the last decade and for the coming period is on the provision of critical additional capacity to cater for increasing demographics and children with special education needs. The overall position with regard to potential modernisation and replacement of existing school infrastructure will be kept under review. You will appreciate that this approach reflects the Department’s fundamental objective of ensuring the availability of a school place for every child.

It is not therefore possible for my Department to commit to the funding requested by the school to upgrade the existing building and playground space at this time. However, the modernisation of the existing accommodation will be considered when funding is available for this purpose.

It is open to the school to submit applications for funding through the appropriate schemes available within my Department, if they meet the required guidelines for the application process.

Details of my Department's Summer Works Scheme, Emergency Works Scheme and the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme are available on my Department's website www.gov.ie. Outside of these funding mechanisms it is also open to schools to utilise their minor works grants as appropriate.