Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

364. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will meet with the board of management of a school (details supplied) to discuss their serious concerns at the failure of her Department to consider inclusion of the school in the forthcoming school capital building programme. [19463/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I can confirm to the Deputy, that the school in question has been approved for a building project under the Department’s Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme, which will provide for 2x Mainstream Classrooms and 2x Special Education Tuition rooms. This project has been devolved to the school authorities for delivery and is currently at stage 3 with our delivery team.

The purpose of the ASA scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream and special education classroom accommodation is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year and where the need cannot be met by the school’s existing accommodation.

In addition, further funding was approved under the ASA scheme in 2022 for modular accommodation to provide 1x Mainstream Modular Classroom and 1x Modular Special Education Tuition rooms. In early 2023, the brief for the school was reviewed and increased to provide 1 x Special Education Needs Classrooms in addition to 1x Mainstream Classroom and 2x Special Education Tuition rooms. This project is currently on site under construction.

I can also confirm that the Department is in receipt of a letter dated the 28^th February 2024, from the Board of Management of the school in question, in relation to the acquisition of a greenfield site by the school.

The Department is required to manage the overall school building programme so that we target and prioritise areas that are under greatest pressure for additional school places. This reflects the Department’s fundamental objective of ensuring the availability of a school place for every child.

The Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform will be engaging with Departments on NDP allocations for the period 2026 to 2028 over the coming months, with allocation decisions expected during the first half of 2024. In this context I can assure the Deputy that the contents of the Board of Management's letter has been noted.

Since 2020, the Department of Education has invested in the region of €4.5 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 800 school building projects with construction currently underway at approximately 300 other projects, which includes 31 new school buildings. The 300 projects currently at construction involve a total State investment of over €1.2bn. 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.

In Co Donegal alone, since 2020 my Department has invested €123.5m in our schools and completed 35 school building projects.

At the present time there are:

• 25 projects under construction
• 8 projects at Stage 3 - Tender
• 8 projects at Stage 2b - Detailed Design

The Department’s approach is to maximise the usage of existing capacity in the school estate and, in tandem with this, to manage the progression of the existing pipeline of projects within available budgets and in line with the Government’s Infrastructure Guidelines. This allows the Department to keep a strong focus on the provision of additional capacity to cater for demographics, new housing developments and the rollout of additional special classes for children with additional needs. The Department’s Modular Accommodation Programme is also used to provide additional capacity in the school estate to meet urgent requirements.

The main focus of the Department’s capital funding over the last decade and for the coming period is on provision of critical additional capacity to cater for increasing demographics and children with special education needs. The overall position with regard to potential modernisation and replacement of existing school infrastructure will be kept under review as capital funding allocations for future years are clarified.

My officials have been in touch with the school authorities to clarify the Department's position in this regard.

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved for delivery to Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board (LCETB) for the provision of a new 32-classroom primary school and a 2-class SEN base.

Following receipt of a detailed design and planning report from LCETB's design team, my Department recommended enhancements to the project, which related principally to the proposed decarbonisation strategy and project phasing requirements for the school.

The Stage 2b addendum report requested, including an updated cost plan was recently received into my Department and is currently being reviewed by Department officials. Once this review is completed, Department officials will be in contact with LCETB in regards to the next appropriate steps to progress this significant project, which is tendering for a contractor and onwards to construction in due course.

My Department will continue to work closely with LCETB and its Design Team in this regard.

I can assure you that my Department is committed to ensuring appropriate accommodation is available for the pupils in Monaleen NS and will in the wider context outlined, ensure that the Monaleen NS project - as for all projects on the school building programme - is subject to the due diligence required under the public Infrastructure guidelines. It is a challenging construction environment across all sectors (Education, Housing, Transport etc.) and my Department is also required to manage the timing, scope and cost of individual projects to remain within budgetary parameters for the overall programme – this involves constant review throughout the project life cycle.

Since 2020, the Department of Education has invested around €4.5 billion in schools throughout the country. Around 800 school building projects have been completed and 300 other projects are under construction. School building projects under construction involve an overall State investment of over €1.2 billion with most of these projects due for completion in 2024 and 2025. This is a record level of investment and highlights my Department’s very strong track record in providing additional capacity and modern facilities for our school communities.

The status of all projects in the pipeline, including those at tender stage, is set out by County at (www.gov.ie) and is updated on a regular basis.

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

369. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on school building plans (details supplied). [19501/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I can confirm to the Deputy that the school in question has been granted funding through my Department's Additional Schools Accommodation (ASA) Scheme to establish a special educational needs base with one classroom.

The project has been devolved for delivery to the school authority. A Stage 3 (tender report) has been received by my Department which is currently being reviewed. All projects, including this one, will undergo the necessary due diligence outlined in the Public Infrastructure Guidelines. Managing timing, scope, and cost is crucial to staying within budgetary limits for the overall ASA program.

Upon completion of this review process, my Department officials will communicate with the school authority regarding the next steps to advance this significant project. As outlined in the article this authorisation may be given over the course of 2024 and early 2025.

Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

370. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills what progress has been made in the construction of a new school building for a school (details supplied) with new school building funding approved in 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19514/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved for delivery to Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board (LCETB) for the provision of a new 32-classroom primary school and a 2-class SEN base.

Following receipt of a detailed design and planning report from LCETB's design team, my Department recommended enhancements to the project, which related principally to the proposed decarbonisation strategy and project phasing requirements for the school.

The Stage 2b addendum report requested, including an updated cost plan was recently received into my Department and is currently being reviewed by Department officials. Once this review is completed, Department officials will be in contact with LCETB in regard to the next appropriate steps to progress this significant project, which is tendering for a contractor and onwards to construction in due course.

My Department will continue to work closely with LCETB and its Design Team in this regard.

I can assure you that my Department is committed to ensuring appropriate accommodation is available for the pupils in Monaleen NS and will in the wider context outlined, ensure that the Monaleen NS project - as for all projects on the school building programme - is subject to the due diligence required under the public Infrastructure guidelines. It is a challenging construction environment across all sectors (Education, Housing, Transport etc.) and my Department is also required to manage the timing, scope and cost of individual projects to remain within budgetary parameters for the overall programme – this involves constant review throughout the project life cycle.

Since 2020, the Department of Education has invested around €4.5 billion in schools throughout the country. Around 800 school building projects have been completed and 300 other projects are under construction. School building projects under construction involve an overall State investment of over €1.2 billion with most of these projects due for completion in 2024 and 2025. This is a record level of investment and highlights my Department’s very strong track record in providing additional capacity and modern facilities for our school communities.

The status of all projects in the pipeline, including those at tender stage, is set out by County at (www.gov.ie) and is updated on a regular basis.

Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

371. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when construction will begin on a new school building for a school (details supplied) with the current school and prefabricated buildings unfit for purpose; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19515/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved for delivery to Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board (LCETB) for the provision of a new 32-classroom primary school and a 2-class SEN base.

Following receipt of a detailed design and planning report from LCETB's design team, my Department recommended enhancements to the project, which related principally to the proposed decarbonisation strategy and project phasing requirements for the school.

The Stage 2b addendum report requested, including an updated cost plan was recently received into my Department and is currently being reviewed by Department officials. Once this review is completed, Department officials will be in contact with LCETB in regards to the next appropriate steps to progress this significant project, which is tendering for a contractor and onwards to construction in due course.

My Department will continue to work closely with LCETB and its Design Team in this regard.

I can assure you that my Department is committed to ensuring appropriate accommodation is available for the pupils in Monaleen NS and will in the wider context outlined, ensure that the Monaleen NS project - as for all projects on the school building programme - is subject to the due diligence required under the public Infrastructure guidelines. It is a challenging construction environment across all sectors (Education, Housing, Transport etc.) and my Department is also required to manage the timing, scope and cost of individual projects to remain within budgetary parameters for the overall programme – this involves constant review throughout the project life cycle.

Since 2020, the Department of Education has invested around €4.5 billion in schools throughout the country. Around 800 school building projects have been completed and 300 other projects are under construction. School building projects under construction involve an overall State investment of over €1.2 billion with most of these projects due for completion in 2024 and 2025. This is a record level of investment and highlights my Department’s very strong track record in providing additional capacity and modern facilities for our school communities.

The status of all projects in the pipeline, including those at tender stage, is set out by County at (www.gov.ie) and is updated on a regular basis.