Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

At the outset, I will say that I am very familiar with this particular school. The Minister, Deputy McConalogue, has raised this with me on a number of occasions, so I am very invested in bringing this over the line. I know that is the Deputy’s view also.

The project that has been referenced by the Deputy is included in the Department’s construction programme, which will be delivered under the national development plan as part of Project Ireland 2040. The project for Scoil Íosagáin in Buncrana is a large-scale project which will provide a new 25-classroom school and all associated ancillary accommodation. The building will also include a further eight classrooms and three specialist rooms for children with special educational needs. These will include a sensory and play suite, a home studies room and an art and music room.

Since 2020, the Department of Education has invested more than €4.5 billion in schools around the country. Approximately 800 school building projects have been completed and 300 projects are under construction. Schools in County Donegal have received €123.5 million in investment since 2020, when this Government came into being, with 35 school building projects being completed and a further 25 currently in construction, including modular accommodation.

School building projects under construction involve an overall State investment of more than €1.2 billion, with most of these projects due for completion in 2024 and 2025. This is a record level of investment and highlights the Department’s strong track record in providing additional capacity and modern facilities for our school communities. I recently announced €800 million in funding for 90 school building projects that will move from tender stage to construction. Some of these have now been announced. They will all be done by degrees in the coming weeks and months.

The projects moving to construction in this next phase will add in the region of 200,000 m2 of additional and modernised permanent capacity across the school estate. They will involve 28 new school buildings and 61 extensions of existing buildings. This level of construction roll out recognises the priority that the Government puts on investment in education, including responding to the increased requirement for special education provision. New medium-term capital allocations for the Department of Education were confirmed in the recent review of national development plan allocations. The Department’s planning and building unit is now reviewing its programme plans in the context of this allocation.

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