108. Deputy Natasha Newsome Drennan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if there are any legal requirements in relation to the minimum space requirement for children in classrooms; if she has examined the matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54063/26]

My department has in place detailed design guidelines for Primary & Post Primary School Accommodation. These guidelines, are available on my department's website at: www.gov.ie/en/publication/7e515-technical-guidance-documents

In primary schools, a mainstream classroom of 80m² in area is provided in the design of new school buildings and extensions to existing buildings. At post primary level, specifications vary with the purpose of the classroom.

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

The main focus of resources over the last decade and for the coming period is on provision of additional capacity to cater for increasing demographics. The Department will continue to build on the aforementioned progress made over recent years with the continued rollout of projects on a prioritised basis to meet the most urgent needs in terms of provision of additional capacity and modernisation of existing facilities. In this regard, there will continue to be a strong emphasis on maximising existing capacity across the school estate and also ensuring that school admissions policies and processes are targeted at meeting local mainstream and special class requirements.

My department’s National Development Plan allocation of €7.55 billion equates to an average of €1.51 billion per annum and in the region of €5 billion will be invested in the delivery and modernisation of school buildings across the Large Scale, Additional Accommodation, Modular, and annual September Needs programmes.

My department’s Climate Action Summer Works Scheme continues to support the upgrading and modernisation of school facilities through a devolved, multi-annual funding model. It is also open to schools to use their Annual Minor Works Grant to make improvements to existing school stock as appropriate.

I wish to confirm to the Deputy that the configuration of classes and the deployment of classroom teachers are done at local school level. My department’s guidance to schools is that the number of pupils in any class is kept as low as possible taking all relevant contextual factors into account, for example, classroom accommodation, fluctuating enrolment etc. However, the enrolment policies in place and compliance for existing schools is a matter for the individual school authorities.