Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Since 2020, my Department has invested in the region of €4.3 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of more than 800 school building projects. Construction is under way on approximately 300 projects, which includes 34 new school buildings. These 300 projects at construction involve a total State investment of in excess of €1.2 billion. There are also 90 projects at the tender process including a further 28 new school buildings. All of these new school buildings are flagship projects in their area and will transform the education infrastructure for those school communities. 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.

The permanent building project for Greystones Community College will deliver a new 1,000-pupil post-primary school and accommodation, including four classrooms for children with special educational needs. The project is being delivered under my Department's design and build programme and is at tender stage. The invitation to tender for the project issued in April 2023 as part of a bundle of projects for ten schools issued to the Department's framework of design and build contractors. Given the scale of works involving new purpose-built accommodation for ten schools, some of which are on-campus sites, the tender process involves a very large volume of documentation and drawings and takes approximately eight to 12 months. Tender returns have been received and are being evaluated. Given the scale of this investment, this tender evaluation process by the Department's technical staff and project management team takes time to work through properly.

The Department is very conscious of the importance of getting these projects, including the project for Greystones Community College, delivered as quickly as possible. The tender evaluation process is well advanced and will be coming to a conclusion shortly. Once the contractor has been appointed, it is anticipated that construction will commence shortly thereafter. The construction duration for the project is estimated at 65 weeks. The Department will continue to keep the school and its patron body updated as the project progresses.

Requirements for school places are kept under ongoing review in the context of available information on population, enrolments and residential development activity.

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