Ann Graves (Dublin Fingal East, Sinn Fein)
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557. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department has any plans to increase capacity in a school (details supplied) to cater for the growing number of applicants in the area. [62119/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The school to which the deputy refers has been approved to enter my Department’s pipeline of school building projects under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme. This approval is to facilitate the provision of a four-class Special Educational Needs (SEN) base with associated ancillary facilities, and two SEN classrooms, under my Department’s Devolved SEN Repurposing and Modular Accommodation Programme.

The project, approved under the ASA Scheme, is currently progressing through Stage 1, and my Department is awaiting the submission of an early design report from the appointed design team for review. Responsibility now rests with the school to progress the project in line with the established process.

The project, approved under the Department’s Devolved SEN Repurposing and Modular Accommodation Programme, is currently in the delivery phase and construction has commenced on site.

At the time of the most recent assessment, the school was considered to have sufficient mainstream accommodation. If the school now anticipates that its current capacity will not accommodate projected enrolment, it is open to them to apply under the ASA scheme for consideration. Any such application will be evaluated in the context of the Department’s National Development Plan (NDP) implementation framework, as well as the specific needs and capacity of the school and the broader School Planning Area.

My department will continue to engage with the school authority to provide practical advice and assistance for the progression of this much needed project.