Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 July 2024
214. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education to provide a list of all second-level education institutions aided by her Department in which there was no provision of a laboratory for the teaching of leaving certificate chemistry, for each year since 2005, in tabular form. [28017/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra215. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Education to provide a list of all second-level education institutions aided by her Department in which there was no provision of a laboratory for the teaching of leaving certificate physics, for each year since 2005, in tabular form. [28018/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 214 and 215 together.
I can assure the Deputy that with regard to the new science curricula, I acknowledge that hands-on experience and access to appropriate facilities and time in laboratories is an important part of the science curriculum. My Department and I will continue to examine how schools can be supported in the introduction of the new science curricula. The appropriate scheduling of laboratory time within schools will also be important.
In the first instance I wish to clarify that science labs are designed to meet the broad science curricula across the Junior and Senior Cycle and are not specific to an individual science subject.
My Department provides science labs with the construction of all new post-primary schools respectively (6 science labs plus 3 prep areas for a 1,000 pupil post-primary school). These facilities may also be provided where a major building or refurbishment project is being delivered for an existing school. It is also open to a school to make an application through the ASA scheme for a science lab, where required. 219 science labs were delivered through large scale and additional accommodation and modular projects since 2020, there are 86 currently under construction and 61 in the next phase of projects going to construction.
Furthermore, the upgrade of laboratory facilities is a category which has been supported through the summer works scheme.
My Department does not hold the specific data requested by the Deputy, however, in 2020, as part of the annual Schools Data Collection, post primary schools reported on whether or not they had a science lab. Of 715 schools, 8 indicated that they did not have at least one science lab. Of these 8, 5 were newly established schools which have new school building projects in train that will deliver state-of-the-art science facilities. All of these schools have also since been provided with science lab facilities as part of their interim accommodation. One more of the eight has since amalgamated with other schools and now has science lab facilities, one has a project in train that is delivering science lab accommodation, and the final one has a made an application for science lab accommodation. This application is at an advanced stage of assessment.
I can assure the Deputy that my Department will continue to support schools with respect to the provision of required science labs through the various capital funding schemes referenced.
