Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. I am glad he was in the Chamber when I was responding to the Topical Issue matter raised by Deputy Boyd Barrett. While they raised matters relating to different schools, there are similarities with respect to the reasons for the delays. I reassure the Deputy that I have been pestering various Departments and Ministers in order to get this matter resolved, as an advocate and as Minister of State with responsibility for special education. It is of great concern to me that this be resolved as soon as possible.

When I talk about it being a matter of timing, I do not say it in a glib way. I say it because, as the Deputy acknowledged, I have been given reassurances that this will be resolved. I am simply saying it is a matter of when that will happen. I hope and I understand it will happen in the early course of the foreseeable future. It will happen within weeks as opposed to months and it is important to say that here today.

All of the individual schools will be given an update about our engagement with the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform when it has concluded, and obviously in the context of the national development plan. The Department will continue to liaise with the schools' patron bodies, especially around any interim accommodation needs, pending delivery of their permanent accommodation. We will provide an update to individual schools as soon as possible and the planning and building unit will also update patron bodies and school management bodies.

The projects are simply at a stage in the process where, in the context of capital funding pressures, it is necessary to place them on hold. However, as I said, I hope and I reassure the Deputy that all the projects that are on hold will be resolved in early course. I am aware of the fact that Sandymount Park ETSS and Shellybanks ETNS have had planning permission since January 2021 and that Harold's Cross ETSS and Harold's Cross ETNS are in modular accommodation and have had planning permission since 2022. We want them to go ahead to tender and construction as soon as possible. As the Deputy is aware, these schools are among a number of different projects that have completed an advanced stage of architectural planning and are due to proceed to tender stage, which is the next stage of the architectural planning. We hope that will be done as soon as possible. I will do everything I can to ensure I continue to liaise closely with the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, the Taoiseach and the Department of Education to ensure this is done as soon as possible.

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