Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter . It gives me the opportunity to provide an update on the current position regarding a number of school building projects that are on hold from proceeding to either tender or construction due to capital funding pressures.

The Department's capital allocation has always been under significant pressure. The Department has a strong track record of fully utilising that allocation. In many years, it has required supplementary capital funding in order to deliver urgently required school building projects. The pressures on the capital allocation have been compounded since the national development plan, NDP, allocations were determined in 2021 by the impact of high construction inflation, the increasing prevalence of autism and other complex special education needs, which require the accelerated delivery of special educational needs provision at pace, and the urgent need to provide capacity for students from Ukraine and other countries under the international protection system. It is remarkable to note that more than 15,000 students from Ukraine alone have been accommodated in our school system within existing capacity. That obviously will have an impact.

The national priority, in the context of the NDP, to increase the roll-out of housing is also adding to pressures on the Department's capital allocation in light of the knock-on impact for additional school provision requirements. The Department's published NDP allocation for 2023 is €860 million. As part of its planning ahead, the Department is in the advanced stages of engagement with the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform on capital funding pressures in order to continue to be able to adequately support the operation of the school system with the roll-out of school building projects to tender and construction in 2023, including the projects referred to in media reports. For the information of the Deputy, engagement with the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform has been ongoing for a considerable time in respect of additional funding.

There were over 180 school building projects delivered during 2022. These projects included accelerated delivery of modular accommodation to support provision for 900 pupils with special education needs. Approximately, 300 school building projects continued in construction at the start of 2023; the majority of which will be completed this year or early in 2024. The latter includes more than 40 new school building projects. This is a considerable undertaking. All of these projects are helping to support the operation of our schools, are delivered to the highest standards and are very energy efficient.

This strong level of delivery is a key driver of capital pressures in the Department. Over 70% of the NDP allocation for 2023 is needed to cover expenditure on contractual commitments on approximately 300 existing projects at construction carried forward from 2022.

Strategic initiatives put in place to support planning for school provision requirements include the setting up of 16 regional education and language teams to facilitate enrolment of over 15,000 children from Ukraine, which has also been undertaken by the school building unit. Necessary smaller scale refurbishment and maintenance in approximately 1,000 schools has also been undertaken. Some 16 deep energy retrofit pathfinder projects are ongoing in partnership with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland. Strategic initiatives put in place to support delivery include the use of project manager supports, procurement frameworks, a variety of delivery mechanisms and a strong pipeline of projects.

It is also important to note that the Department, with the superb co-operation of schools on the ground, as I have already outlined, has accommodated students not only from Ukraine but also from other parts of the world.

These pressures have resulted in the need for my Department's planning and building unit to assess its work programme and priorities for the remainder of 2023 in the context of its available funding. The Department is at the advanced stages of engagement with the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform on capital funding pressures in order to continue to adequately support the operation of the school system with roll-out of school building projects to construction, including those in Dublin Mid-West, in 2023. Progress has been made and the Department is anxious to bring this to resolution very quickly.

Key priorities in my Department's 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 to supporting special needs provision.

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