Written answers
Tuesday, 23 April 2024
Department of Education and Skills
Schools Building Projects
Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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270. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide a date for when the permanent school building project at a school (details supplied) is due to proceed to tender; if she can explain in detail the delay behind the project not proceeding to tender already; if she will name the projects from lot 7 that have proceeded to tender, if any; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17389/24]
Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Since 2020, my Department has invested in the region of €4.5 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 800 school building projects. Construction is currently underway at approximately 300 other projects, which includes 31 new school buildings. Projects at construction involve a total State investment of over €1.2bn.
I recently announced that close to 90 school building projects currently at tender stage will be authorised to proceed to construction over the course of 2024 and early 2025. In total, around €800 million will be invested in these projects under the department’s Large Scale Capital Programme and Additional Accommodation Scheme for essential classroom accommodation.
This level of construction rollout recognises the priority that Government puts on investment in education, including responding to the increased requirement for special education provision.
The project for the school referred to by the Deputy currently has planning permission and will, along with a number of other projects with planning permission, be brought to the level of employer-led design with a Design Team assigned to do so under the supervision of my Department’s Project Manager. The process of appointing the Design Team from my Department’s Frameworks of Consultants was completed in September 2023 and the project is now progressing through design development stages.
Projects are subject to relevant due diligence by my Department at each stage in the process, within the context of overall programme and budgetary parameters. In late March, following a review of National Development Plan allocations, the Government approved medium term capital allocations for the Department of Education for the period to 2026. The Department’s Planning and Building Unit is now reviewing its programme plans in the context of those recently confirmed allocations.
I can assure the Deputy that the major building project for the school referred to is a significant priority for my Department.
My Department will continue to liaise with the school and patron body in relation to interim accommodation requirements and provide any updates in relation to progress on the school building project.
Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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271. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if an extension of the planning permission has been lodged for a school (details supplied). [17390/24]
Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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In reference to the school referred to by the Deputy, my Department expects to lodge an application for an extension to the planning permission shortly.
John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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272. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the timeframe for the granting of approval for a school (details supplied) to proceed to the tender acceptance stage for an extension project approved by her Department; to outline her Department’s predicted timeframe for completion of the works; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17401/24]
Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The school to which the Deputy refers was approved to enter the Department's school accommodation pipeline of projects to provide 4 mainstream classrooms, 4 SET rooms, a meeting room, science room and staff facilities.
The project is devolved to the school authority for delivery.
I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has recently received a stage 3 tender report from the school. This report is currently being reviewed from both a technical and cost perspective in accordance with the requirements of the public infrastructure guidelines. It is not possible at this stage to give a definitive timeline as to when this review will be complete.
It is planned that close to 90 school building projects currently at Tender stage will be authorized to proceed to construction over the course of 2024 and 2025. These projects will provide new and modernised facilities to help schools cater for growing populations in their areas and include 138 classrooms for children with special education needs, which is a key priority for Government. In total, around €800 million will be invested in these projects under the Department' Large Scale Capital Programme and Additional School Accommodation Scheme for essential classroom accommodation. This is a record level of investment in school buildings. It will expand the number of school places, significantly increase provision for special education and upgrade and modernise the school infrastructure. The impact of this will be felt in communities right around the country.
Officials at my Department are liaising with the school authority and will provide guidance on the next stage and on how to progress to the next stage once the review is complete.
Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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273. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide a breakdown of the anticipated number of additional school places for primary, post primary and special schools for school building projects in County Offaly during 2020 to 2023, in tabular form. [17402/24]
Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I would like to advise the Deputy that since 2020, my Department has invested in the region of €4.3 billion in our schools throughout the country, including the completion of over 750 school building projects with construction currently underway at approximately 300 other projects, which includes 34 new school buildings.
School building projects at construction involve an overall State investment of over €1.2 billion. We also have a large modular accommodation programme delivering urgently needed school places.
For County Offaly alone, for the period 2020 to March 2024, there has been a total of 43.4 million euros expended on project completions, projects in construction and projects in the pipeline. Twenty one Large Scale, Additional Schools' Accommodation (ASA) Scheme projects and modular projects completed in County Offaly from 2020 to 2023. There are currently six school building projects in construction, two school building projects at Stage 3 and six school building projects at Stage 2b.
There are currently a number of active projects at primary level and post primary level across Offaly School Planning areas, including extensions for Coláiste Choilm and Killina Presentation Secondary School in Tullamore_Killina school planning area, and a new school build for Oaklands Community College to provide for an enrolment of 1,000 pupils in Edenderry.
The Capital Programme details the school projects that are being progressed under Project Ireland 2040. The current status of large-scale projects being delivered under Project Ireland 2040, may be viewed on my Department's website at, www.gov.ie and this information is updated regularly. In addition, a list of large-scale projects completed from 2010 to date may also be viewed on the website.
This is a record level of investment in our schools and highlights the Government’s very strong track record of delivery in providing additional capacity and modern facilities for our school communities.
Roll Number | School_Name | EDUCATION_ORG_TYPE | Year Approved | Total_Project_Brief | Summary |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
16928B | St Philomena NS | Primary | 2020 | Reconfiguration of cloak rooms to SET rooms | |
17003A | St Josephs NS | Primary | 2020 | 1x Mainstream classroom | 1 x Additional Classroom |
17336E | Scoil Naisiunta Mhuire Bainrioghan | Primary | 2020 | 1x Special education classroom | 1 x Additional Special Education Classroom |
65610S | Coláiste Choilm | Post Primary | 2020 | 3x Mainstream classrooms:1x Technology Room with Prep area:2x Science Laboratories with shared prep area:1x DCG room:1x Art room:1x Multimedia room, 2 x Special education Classroom | To bring LTPE to 750 and 12 Special Education Needs students |
65620V | Sacred Heart Sec. School | Post Primary | 2020 | 1x Art Room & reconfiguration of 2x rooms to provide one SEN class | LTPE of 600 and 18 Special Education Needs Students |
12370C | St Brendans PS | Primary | 2020 | 2x Special education Classroom: reconfiguration works to provide 2x Special education tuition rooms:1x Special Class Classroom | 1 Additional classroom |
17746A | St Colmans NS | Primary | 2020 | Refurb to Create ASD Class | 1 additional Special Education Classroom |
18406E | Scoil Phroinsiais Naofa | Primary | 2020 | 2x Mainstream classrooms (prefab replacement):1 Mainstream classroom:3x Special education tuition room:1x Special education Classroom | 1 additional Classroom and 1 additional Special Education Classroom |
18115Q | S.N. Mhuire Cloneygowan | Primary | 2020 | 2x Special education classrooms:1x Mainstream classroom (prefab replacement )& 1x staffroom & conversion of existing staffroom to 1x Special education tuition room & reconfiguration works for Special education classroom | 2 Additional special Education Classrooms |
16013V | St. Mary's Primary School, Edenderry | Primary | 2021 | 2x Early intervention unit:toilet | 2 Additional Special Education Classrooms |
11203B | Seir Kieran's National School | Primary | 2021 | Reconfiguration of existing space to provide 1 ASD class | 1 additional Special Education Classroom |
16620T | Daingean National School | Primary | 2021 | 1 x mainstream classroom + ensuite toilets+ 1 UAWC + 1 SET room | 1 Additional Classroom |
07191V | S.N. Seosamh, Gortnamona | Primary | 2021 | 1x Special education classroom & 1x Central Activities unit & 1x Special education Tuition classroom (prefab replacement) | 1 Additional Special Education Classroom |
18797W | St Joseph's National School | Primary | 2021 | 3x Special education tuition classrooms:& 2x purchased prefabs on site | 3 Special Education Classrooms |
65630B | Killina Presentation Secondary School | Post Primary | 2022 | 1x Mainstream classroom:1x Graphics room:1x Technology room:1x Technology preparation room:1x project store:1x tuition room. | LTPE 550 and 28 Special Education Students |
20289P | St. Cynoc's National School | Primary | 2022 | Reconfiguration of room to provide a SEN base | 1 Additional Special Education Classroom |
16160L | Clonaghadoo National School | Primary | 2022 | Central activities room, quiet space, daily skills, storage | |
17746A | Scoil Colmain Naofa | Primary | 2022 | 2 Special education Tuition rooms (prefab replacement) and 2x Special education tuition rooms (new) | |
09191I | Geashill National School | Primary | 2022 | Reconfiguration works for SEN class in September 22 (until permanent is delivered) | 1 additional Special Education Classroom |
09191I | Geashill National School | Primary | 2022 | Reconfiguration works to GP room to provide for SEN class | 1 Additional Special Education Classroom |
17508H | S.N. Colmcille | Primary | 2022 | 1 SEN class + sensory garden | 1 additional Special Education Classroom |
09191I | Geashill National School | Primary | 2022 | 1x Special education classroom:1x central activities unit | 1 additional Special Education Classroom |
65582Q | St. Mary's Secondary School | Post Primary | 2020 | 4x Mainstream classrooms (prefab replacement):1x Construction room & project store (prefab replacement):2x Special education classroom (prefab replacement) | To bring LTPE to 800 plus 24 special Education Students |
12294M | ST CRONANS MIXED N S | Primary | 2023 | Reconfiguration of spare MCR to 1 X SEN | 1 additional Special Education Classroom |
17508H | S N NAOMH CHOLUMCHILLE | Primary | 2023 | 2x Special education classrooms & central activities space & Sensory garden | 2 additional Special Education Classroom |
12343W | SHINRONE MIXED N S | Primary | 2023 | Reconfiguration of 80m2 MCR for SEN (Displaced MCR to be provided with modular) | 1 additional Special Education Classroom |
65630B | Killina Presentation Secondary School | Post Primary | 2021 | 2 general classrooms + 1 SEN Interim Accommodation | To provide for 60 additional places + 6 Special Education Students |
65630B | Killina Presentation Secondary School | Post Primary | 2022 | 2 x 49m2 general classrooms Purchase – Interim | To provide for 12 additional Special Education places |
12370C | St. Brendan's Boys Primary School | Primary | 2022 | Purchase of 1 x 80m² MCR and 1 x 15m² SET Room | To provide 1 additional Classroom |
72530L | Ard Scoil Chiarain Naofa | Post Primary | 2022 | Purchase of Science Lab + Prep area - 100m2 - originally rented | |
72540O | Oaklands Community College | Post Primary | 2022 | Purchase of 1 x 58m2 classroom | To bring LTPE to 850 |
72540O | Oaklands Community College | Post Primary | 2022 | Purchase of prefabs currently on site. Purchase of 13 rented classrooms, 1 SEN base, 1 Art Room, 2 SET rooms, 1 Science Lab, 1 Home Economics and 1 staff room | To provide LTPE of 850 and 12 Special Education Students |
18797W | St. Joseph's N.S. | Primary | 2022 | 6 x 80m2 mainstream classrooms & 2 x 15m2 SET rooms | 2 additional mainstream classrooms |
72520I | Coláiste Naomh Cormac | Post Primary | 2022 | 1 x 100 SEN unit | To provide for 6 Special Education Students |
20461B | Gaelscoil na Laochra | Primary | 2022 | 4 Classroom school plus 1 SEN Base | 2 additional Classrooms and 1 Special Education Classroom |
72560U | Tullamore College | Post Primary | 2023 | 2 x Special Education Needs Classrooms , 3 x Mainstream Classrooms | Additional 90 places and additional 12 Special Education places |
65630B | Killina Presentation Secondary School | Post Primary | 2023 | Modular accommodation from framework (bespoke) for 1 MGLD classroom and toilets | Additional 6 Special Education Students |
12343W | SHINRONE MIXED N S | Primary | 2023 | 1 x special class by way of modular/reconfiguration | 1 additional Special Education Classroom |
17637S | S N SHEOSAIMH NAOFA | Primary | 2023 | 2 x SEN modular framework no 9 | 2 additional Special Education Classrooms |
10353P | CHARLEVILLE N S | Primary | 2023 | 1 x MCR and 1 x SEN Modular- Timber frame | 1 additional Mainstream classroom and 1 Special Education Classroom |
02413L | S N NAOMH EOIN | Primary | 2023 | 1 X MCR 80msq Modular Unit | 1 Additional mainstream classroom |
Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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274. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of capital funding her Department provided to (details supplied) in the years of 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024; the nature of the refurbishment works carried out at this station during this period, in tabular form. [17403/24]
Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The school to which the Deputy refers to has received the following funding from the Department of Education, under the Additional School Accommodation Scheme, within the time period of 2022-2024.
The table below shows in tabular form, as requested, funding which issued to the school in question including the applicable scheme:
Spend | Roll No | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | Nature of works |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
ASA | 20281W | - | 109,944 | 362,755 | Reconfiguration of room to provide SEN accommodation |
Minor Works | 20281W | - | 8,775 | - | Standard grant for the school year 2023/24 |
F&E | 20281W | - | 9,200 | - | Furniture & Equipment grant |
Special Needs Set-Up Grant | 20281W | - | - | 21,000 | Set Up grant for SEN |
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