Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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721.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on a school project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32192/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The school referred to by the Deputy was approved to enter the departments pipeline of school buildings projects to provide the following accommodation: 8 x General Classrooms, 4 x Special Education Tuition rooms, a Music room, a Textiles room, an Art Room, a Project store, a Multimedia room, 2 x Science laboratories and a Preparation area, a Library and a General Purpose / Dining Hall. The project has been devolved for delivery to the school authority and it has appointed a design team.

Officials in my department have approved this project to progress to the planning stage. The school has been advised accordingly and my department is now awaiting the post planning approval Stage 2B architectural report from the school authority for review.

The current status of all projects is listed on a county by county basis at www.gov.ie. and this is updated on a regular basis to reflect project progress through the various stages of capital appraisal, site acquisition, design, planning, tender and construction. Since 2020, my department has invested in the region of €4.9 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 900 school building projects and with construction currently underway at approximately 300 other projects, which includes 30 new school buildings. These 300 projects currently at construction involve a total State investment of over €1.2bn. 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 our school infrastructure. The impact of this will be felt in communities right around the country.