School Facilities

Wednesday, 8 October 2025

Questions (221)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

221. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will review a case (details supplied) where a Health and Safety Authority inspection highlighted risks arising from the lack of storage facilities for PE and other equipment; the reason this matter has been processed under the additional school accommodation scheme, where it does not relate to ASD provision or classroom needs but to the omission of a storage facility during the original building project; if funding will be provided to address this urgent storage requirement as a stand-alone matter; and if she will ensure this matter is treated as a priority given the ongoing health and safety concerns. [54142/25]

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Written answers

Minister for Education and Youth

The large scale capital project for the extension and refurbishment of the school referred to by the Deputy, to cater for a 30 classroom school, reached substantial completion in January 2025.

The school was designed with storage facilities required for all of the accommodation at the school.

My Department officials were informed by the school authority that the school had made a decision for the PE Hall storage provided in the plans, to be used for alternate purposes. At an advanced stage of the project, it was not possible for my Department to provide additional accommodation under the existing contract.

In relation to general capacity requirements, it is open to the school to make contact with my Department’s, Schools Capacity Planning area to discuss their remaining needs and to see what alternate options would be available to them.