Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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22. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will urgently review the decision by her Department not to include a school (details supplied) in the school capital building programme. [23739/24]

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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This question is around Scoil Mhuire National School in Milford, County Donegal. I discussed this matter with the Minister earlier in the year. This school is not fit for purpose in terms of the buildings, but in terms of education, it is the opposite. It offers a tremendous education but in conditions that are unacceptable. It is landlocked site and is very dangerous at the junction of roads. The building is from the 1950s. It is totally inadequate in every way. The school has secured a new site. I understand the school representatives met the Minister recently. I am looking for an update on the Minister's perspective.

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The school in question has received approval in principle for a building project under my Department’s additional school accommodation, ASA, scheme. The project will provide for two mainstream classrooms and two special education teaching rooms.

This project is currently at stage 3, which is tender stage. The project is one of close to 90 projects with a total value of approximately €800 million that I recently announced would proceed from tender to construction during 2024 or early 2025. In addition, at the school under reference, further approval was provided under the ASA scheme in 2022 for modular accommodation to provide one mainstream classroom and two special education tuition rooms. In early 2023, the brief for the school was reviewed and a further special education needs classroom was added to the scope. I am pleased to advise that this project is now largely complete and occupied, with just some external works remaining to be finalised. I can confirm to the Deputy that the Department is in receipt of a letter dated 28 February 2024 from the board of management of the school in question in relation to the acquisition of a greenfield site by the school. Further, an application for capital funding for development of this greenfield site was received on 21 May 2024.

I note that the level of additional accommodation already being progressed for the school under reference, both under the modular and traditional build ASA programmes, is a significant investment in the existing school and will greatly improve the teaching and learning environment. Modular accommodation being provided to schools today is high quality, robust and durable. All new buildings, including modular buildings, are required to meet the near zero energy building standard, which ensures high levels of energy efficiency, thermal performance and sustainability.

Since 2020, the Department has invested more than €4.8 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of more than 800 school building projects and construction currently under way at approximately 300 other projects. This is a record level of investment in our schools and highlights the Government’s strong track record of delivery in providing additional capacity and modern facilities to school communities. In County Donegal alone, in the years since this Government came into being, the Department has invested more than €136 million in school infrastructure and completed 42 school building projects. As of the end of April, a further 23 projects were in construction in County Donegal with eight at tender stage.

I had the opportunity to visit that school, as the Deputy referenced, with the Minister, Deputy McConalogue and Senator Blaney. I am conscious and aware, as the Deputy has outlined, of the application it has made to the Department, which is being given due consideration.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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As the Minister says, she has visited the school and seen at first hand the conditions in the school. The board of management is adamant that when it engaged with the Department it was assured that if it applied for these additional modular buildings, it would not impact on its application for a new school. It is now really frustrated that when asking about being included in a school capital programme, the response from the Department is about these modular buildings. It was always assured that these would not militate against the wider proposal. Not only that, but I also think it is extraordinary that the school has found an alternative site at no cost to the State. This site is within the controlled boundaries of Milford town. It would be ideally located, so I think it is an exceptional offer. However, the school buildings are totally inadequate for modern education. I am sure the Minister will agree, having seen it for herself. I appeal to her to please include the school in that capital programme.

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I appreciate the case the Deputy is making, and he makes it well. I also acknowledge the case being made by the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, and Senator Blaney. I have met the board and the principal and acknowledge the great work they do there every single day. I also say that it was only at the end of February that the Department received acknowledgement of availability of the site, and it was only on 21 May that the Department received the application for capital funding to develop the greenfield site. That will have to be considered with regard to the needs of the school and also right across the country in terms of the funding immediately available to the Department. As I have said, that is quite considerable funding of more than €4.8 billion over the past four years. I recently announced another €800 million for 90 projects moving from tender to construction this year and at the start of 2025. There has been enormous investment, particularly in County Donegal. We will have to facilitate the Department with the time to look at what has been proposed.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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I acknowledge there has been a good bit of good news for schools in County Donegal. I would not begrudge the Minister that assertion. However, she will know, having visited this school, that the conditions are not acceptable for modern education. They do not comply in any way with classroom sizes, toilet and play amenities. Special needs children are being educated in hallways. It is just not acceptable. The point is that the school understood clearly that if it went down the path of modular buildings it would not have an impact on its wider plans. The fact is it has secured a new site. What stood with me is that I have rarely seen a school with such poor buildings that does not have light at the end of the tunnel, or a clear pathway to a new school. I was told that they would knuckle down and get on with the conditions they have if they knew a new school was coming down the line. We are looking to give them hope that pathway is there. They can endure these conditions for another couple of years until we get to the point, and they have a school they deserve, considering the tremendous education they provide.

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I acknowledge the Department has been cognisant of the needs of the school. It is for that reason that the school received approval for two mainstream classrooms and two special education teaching rooms. That is currently at tender stage. The Department has recognised the challenges the school has faced. That was in addition to a further ASA scheme in 2022 for modular accommodation to provide a mainstream classroom and two special education tuition rooms. The Department has been cognisant of the great work happening in that school every day, the delivery of education, the dedication to students and the need for appropriate facilities. This has been put in place between 2022 and currently.

On the site becoming available, which was notified to the Department at the end of February, the application that came in on 21 May for consideration for capital funding will be considered in due course.