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.

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.

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: