Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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192. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a school (details supplied) is included in the funding of €800 million for 90 school building projects announced by her Department recently; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17191/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy has been approved for a project under my Department's Additional Accommodation Scheme. The project will provide 2 mainstream classrooms, 2 classroom SEN base and early intervention unit.

This project has been devolved for delivery to the school authority and is currently awaiting approval to construction.

My Department has a strong track record of delivery of school building projects involving circa. 300 projects currently at construction including 34 new school buildings and over 800 projects completed since 2020 notwithstanding the wider construction sector environment of high inflation, labour shortages and supply chain issues. We continue to have a strong pipeline of projects for delivery under the school building programme.

My Department is committed to ensuring appropriate accommodation is available for the pupils in the school referred to by the Deputy and will in the wider context outlined, ensure that this school's project - as for all projects on our school building programme - is subject to the due diligence required under the public Infrastructure Guidelines.

The project is currently being reviewed from both a technical and cost perspective in accordance with the requirements of the Public Spending Code. This Department will be in contact with the school directly once this review has been completed.

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The project to which the Deputy refers was approved a project under my Department’s Additional School Accommodation Scheme (ASA) for the provision of 3 general classrooms and 1 SET room.

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 financial perspective. It is not possible at this stage to give a definitive timeline as to when this review will be complete.

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.