Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter and apologise for the absence of my colleague, the Minister, Deputy Foley. The Deputy's question gives me the opportunity to outline to the House the position of the Department with regard to the primary school situation in Carrick-on-Shannon, in particular the existing St. Mary’s Primary School, about which the Deputy spoke so eloquently.

In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, the Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a geographical information system, using data from a range of sources, including child benefit and school enrolment data, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise and where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary levels. Current and planned residential development activity, as well as Project Ireland 2040 population and housing targets, additionally inform the Department's forecasts of school place needs. Where data indicate that additional provision is required at primary or post-primary level, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may be provided through either one, or a combination of, using existing unused capacity within a school or schools, extending the capacity of a school or schools and the provision of a new school or schools.

The Deputy will appreciate that our Department has a strong track record of the delivery of school building projects and this was maintained in 2022 notwithstanding the wider construction sector environment of high inflation, labour shortages and supply chain issues. Approximately 180 school building projects were delivered last year and a further 273 school building projects remained under construction at the start of 2023, most of which will be completed this year. I am appreciative of the strong support provided by Government for our education budget. As part of the supplementary budget, €300 million in additional capital funding was provided in 2022. This helped to alleviate capital funding pressures that arose in 2022 and was reflective of the strong delivery by the Department of school building projects, particularly to support mainstream provision and special education needs provision. The Department's overall capital outturn for 2022 was €1.12 billion.

Our Department's planning and building unit is currently assessing its work programme and priorities for 2023 in the context of its available funding. My Department's published national development plan allocation for 2023 is €860 million. High construction inflation remains a continuing feature of the construction sector for 2023. As part of its planning ahead for 2023, the Department is engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform in respect of capital funding pressures in order to continue to be able to adequately support the operation of the school system with a roll-out of school building projects to construction in 2023.

Key priorities for the work programme include continuing strong delivery to support the operation of the school system with particular regard to planning ahead for the 2023-24 school year and beyond, and also with particular regard to supporting special needs provision. The school to which the Deputy refers is among the many school accommodation needs across the country being considered as part of this process and in that context, modular accommodation to facilitate two classrooms has been sanctioned for the school. I understand, however, the point the Deputy is making about the desire for a new building in St. Mary's Primary School in Carrick-on-Shannon. My Department’s overall approach is to ensure that available capacity is maximised to the greatest extent possible as part of its consideration of applications for additional accommodation. In addition, our Department is working to ensure that projects in the pipeline for planning and delivery are focused on maximising their alignment with overall capacity requirements.

The Department has been considering the long-term accommodation needs of the school and reviewing the demographics for Carrick-on-Shannon. This consideration also includes a technical report, to which the Deputy referred, on the condition of the St. Mary’s Primary School building, which followed a visit to the school by Department’s personnel. A determination in respect of the best way forward will be taken as soon as possible in the context of capital funding. The Department will be in touch with the school patron in due course regarding the future of St. Mary’s Primary School.

See this speech in context