Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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140. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an additional accommodation scheme application lodged by a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17421/26]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I can confirm to the Deputy that an application under the department’s Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme was received from the school in question.

The purpose of the ASA scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream classroom and Special Education (SEN) accommodation is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year, where the need cannot be met by the school’s existing accommodation or by available accommodation at other schools in the area.

All applications from schools for capital works must be considered in the context of capacity requirements and climate action commitments. The plan for identifying opportunities to transform existing schools at national scale will be informed by the outcome of an Energy and Condition survey of all schools which is due for completion this year. The subsequent analysis of this significant amount of data will help determine priorities going forward in relation to retrofit and refurbishment projects. The process may ultimately identify a requirement for the replacement of some accommodation, but this is not expected to be widespread. This overall process is particularly valuable in facilitating a proportionate assessment of a school’s accommodation upgrade needs relative to all other schools and allow an effective prioritisation of capital investment.

As the Deputy is aware, I have recently published the NDP (National Development Plan) Sectoral Investment Plan for the Education and Youth Sectors. This NDP Sectoral Plan involves a very strong emphasis on maximising existing capacity and prioritisation of school building projects to meet the most urgent needs.

The accommodation needs at the school referred to by the Deputy will be considered as part of the ongoing overall department-led prioritisation process, in consultation with the school’s patron and school authorities. Any interim requirements will be considered by the Department in the normal manner (e.g. Emergency Works Scheme).

This allows the Department to keep a strong focus on the provision of additional capacity to cater for demographics, new housing developments and the rollout of additional special classes for children with additional needs. This approach reflects the Department’s fundamental objective of ensuring the availability of a school place for every child.