William Aird (Laois, Fine Gael)
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853. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update on when an application for additional accommodation for a school (details supplied) will be progressed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59608/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I can confirm that the school in question submitted an application under the department’s Additional School Accommodation Scheme (ASA) in 2024 as outlined by the Deputy.

In February 2025 my department approved the provision of modular accommodation of 2 Special Educational Needs (SEN) classrooms for this school. A project manager has been appointed from the Department’s Framework to design and tender the project. The works have commenced on site in October 2025 and there is a target completion date for quarter 1 of 2026.

The Department's approach will be to continue to maximise the capacity of the existing school estate as much as possible in the first instance and provide necessary additional capacity through targeted and prioritised project rollout over the course of 2026 to 2030 period to meet the most urgent and prioritised needs. A strong focus will be on maximising existing school capacity, progressing priority projects where local capacity across schools in the area is insufficient, and ensuring delivery that is affordable, offers value for money, and meets functional needs. The provision of required school places, including for children with special educational needs, is a priority for my department.

A decision will be made in relation to the school's application for additional accommodation shortly in the context of overall programme management. This decision will take account of overall school place needs, including for children with special education needs, and in cognisance of demographic projections, capacity across schools in the area, and the extent to which schools are prioritising local school place needs.