Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 May 2024
30. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Education if her Department will provide the temporary accommodation necessary to allow a school (details supplied) to carry out proposed works; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23810/24]
View answerThe Minister might have a different numbering system.
I do not have it. What is it about? Question No. 30 is not listed.
It is about temporary accommodation.
It is about temporary accommodation for Lough Cutra National School in County Galway. It is looking for temporary accommodation while the existing school is refurbished top to bottom. It is not being funded for the temporary accommodation it needs to keep the school going while construction work goes ahead.
That question was not flagged with me but I will take the details from the Deputy and ensure we revert to him.
I submitted the question. I will give the Minister the kernel of it. The school got an additional accommodation grant but it is a total refurbishment of the school. The problem is that every one of the students has to be taken out of the school and there is no place locally to put them. The Department has said it must find its own accommodation to put them in temporarily for about six months. It is an impossible task. Funding is also a problem. The school is looking for the Department to provide temporary accommodation during the construction period to allow the school to function in a rural area while refurbishment works go ahead and to fund it.
Without knowing the details, I cannot comment because I am not apprised of it. The Department works collaboratively with schools, particularly those benefiting, as the Deputy outlined, from a refurbishment or additional accommodation, whatever the case may be. We have a policy of engagement, co-operation and collaboration. I am confident the project the Deputy outlined is a significant undertaking financially by the Department. We want to ensure education continues to be delivered while that is provided. I do not have the specifics but I note the Deputy submitted the question. I will ensure it is replied to in full.
Question No. 32 is in the name of the same Deputy. There might be a difficulty with the answer but we did not anticipate being so far advanced at this stage. The Minister is so efficient she is ahead of herself.
I will have to speak more slowly.
