Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator. The Minister, Deputy Norma Foley has asked me to answer this on her behalf. I will give an update on the timelines for the delivery of additional classrooms at Ardscoil Phádraig, Granard.

Ardscoil Phádraig, Granard is a coeducational secondary school and enrolment for the school in September 2023 was 345 pupils. I am pleased to advise the House that Ardscoil Phádraig was approved to enter the Department’s pipeline of school buildings under the additional school accommodation scheme. The project involves the provision of five mainstream classrooms along with one music, one multimedia and one textiles room combined with a science laboratory and science preparation area and a user-assisted toilet. The project has been devolved for delivery to the Longford Westmeath Education and Training Board, which has submitted the stage one architectural report, early design, to the Department for approval. This report is currently being reviewed from both a technical and cost perspective in accordance with the requirements of the public infrastructure guidelines. Once this review is complete, my Department will be in touch with the school authority on how best to progress this important project through to detailed design, planning, procurement and construction. At this early stage and particularly in advance of the necessary statutory approvals, it is not possible to provide a reliable date for when this school building project will be completed.

Since 2020, my Department has invested over €5 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 950 school building projects and with construction currently under way on approximately 350 other projects, which includes 37 new school buildings. These 350 projects currently at construction involve a total State investment of over €1.5 billion. This is a record level of investment in school buildings. It will expand the number of school places, significantly increase provision for special education and upgrade and modernise our school infrastructure. The impact of this will be felt in communities right around the country.

Notwithstanding this level of unprecedented investment, it is also important to note that all individual projects form part of a larger programme. The Department must manage the wider programme within the context of available resources, including funding parameters. In doing so, the Department targets and prioritises areas that are under greatest pressure for additional school places. This reflects the Department's fundamental objective of ensuring the availability of a school place for every child.