Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter as it provides me with the opportunity, on behalf of the Minister for Education, to outline to the Dáil the current position in relation to the multiple projects specified in the Deputy’s request, namely, Coláiste Bhríde in Carnew, Gorey Community School, St. John's senior primary school in Arklow and Bunclody Community College.

Since 2020, the Department has invested more than €5.7 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 1,150 school building projects. Between projects currently under construction and projects moving to construction in the coming months, investments by the Department of Education are adding more than 550,000 sq. m of new and modernised capacity to our school estate. The length of time a project takes to deliver depends on several factors, including scale and complexity, and is subject to the time it takes to progress through the various design stages and the statutory approval process.

The Coláiste Bhríde project has been devolved to the National Development Finance Agency for delivery as part of a programme of school building projects. The project will provide a new build replacement school for a long-term projected enrolment of 1,000 pupils, including a four-class special educational needs base. The project is currently in the final stages of stage 2b, which is the post-planning process, and once this stage has been finalised and approved, the next stage is onwards to tendering and construction. The National Development Finance Agency will engage directly with the school authorities to keep them informed of the progress.

The Gorey Community School project was devolved to the school authority for delivery as part of the additional school accommodation scheme. The project brief will deliver five general classrooms, four special educational training rooms, one art room, one home economics room, one science room with preparation area and ancillary area. The project is currently at stage 1, which is early design, and the addendum report has been received by the Department and is currently under review. Once this review has been completed, the Department will contact the school authorities and advise on the next steps to progress this much-needed project.

St. John's senior primary school submitted an application for funding under the emergency works scheme for external environment works to its playground. The emergency works scheme operates on the basis of a minimal scope of works required to remedy an emergency situation and on this basis, the school was advised to submit a revised scope of works with an accompanying itemised cost breakdown. Once this has been received, the emergency works scheme team will review the revised application and will engage further with the school as appropriate. The emergency works scheme team is aware of the urgent nature of the works required and will keep the school informed throughout the progress.

The Bunclody Community College project has been devolved for delivery to Waterford and Wexford Education and Training Board to provide a new extension and refurbishment of an existing building. The tender short-listing process under the management of the ETB is nearing its conclusion. Once this process is complete, the project will progress to tender and construction in due course. Waterford-Wexford ETB will be engaging directly with the school authority to keep it informed of progress.

I again thank the Deputy for providing the opportunity to outline the Department of Education's position in relation to these four projects. As I have outlined, the Department will continue to engage with the relevant school and delivery authorities to progress these much-needed projects as quickly and as practicably as possible.

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