Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley. I thank the Senator for raising the matter as it allows me an opportunity to update the House on the current position in respect of the provision of a new school building for Drogheda Educate Together Secondary School, ETSS.

Drogheda ETSS is a coeducational post-primary school under the patronage of Educate Together. It was established in September 2019 as a start-up second level school as a regional solution to serve the combined Drogheda and Laytown school planning areas. The permanent school building project for Drogheda ETSS is being developed under the Department’s design and build programme. As the Senator stated, the programme will deliver a new 1,000 pupil post-primary school building and accommodation, including six classrooms for children with special educational needs. Representatives of the school have viewed the plans for the new school in advance of submitting the planning application.

The Department has been liaising with an adjacent landowner regarding a letter of consent which is required as part of the planning permission. Although this element of the planning application preparation is outside of the control of the Department, I can confirm that agreement in principle has been reached with the landowner in respect of providing the letter of consent and the matter is expected to be concluded shortly. Once the letter of consent has been received, the planning application can be lodged within a matter of days. All going well, we expect that the planning application will be lodged soon.

Since 2020, the Department has invested in the region of €4.3 billion in schools throughout the country, involving the completion of 800 school building projects. Construction is currently under way at approximately 300 other projects, which includes 34 new school buildings. These 300 projects currently at construction involve a total State investment of €1.2 billion. There are also 90 projects currently at the tender process, including a further 28 new school buildings. All these new school buildings are flagship projects in their area and transform the education infrastructure for those school communities. This is a record level of investment in schools and this highlights the Government’s very strong track record of delivery in providing additional capacity and modern facilities for school communities.

Going back to the core point raised by the Senator, I can confirm that agreement has been reached in principle with the landowner with regard to providing the letter of consent. We expect it to be concluded very shortly. In the normal way, once that letter of consent has been received, the planning application will be lodged within a matter of days. I expect that to happen soon. I hope this is welcome news for the pupils of Drogheda ETSS, their principal and the teachers and parents,.