Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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82. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the announcement of 13 April 2018 regarding the establishment of 42 new schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42086/18]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, my Department has provided a comprehensive update to the Education Committee of which he is a member on 30 September last and has committed to do so on a regular basis with regard to the status of the 42 new schools to be provided over the next 4 years (2019 to 2022).

The current focus for my Department is to prioritise the 17 schools opening in 2019 so that patrons can be appointed and accommodation solutions put in place as soon as possible. My Department has appointed a Project Manager to assist with this work and potential interim accommodation solution options have been identified for the majority of the 17 schools.

My Department's Design and Build Programme will be the main delivery mechanism for providing permanent accommodation for the 42 new schools. A procurement process is currently underway to facilitate the appointment of a Project Manager who will assist my Department in the provision of permanent accommodation for the new schools to be established from 2020 onwards.

A patronage process is ongoing in respect of the four post primary schools due to open in 2019 and I expect to make an announcement shortly in this regard. A patronage process for the primary schools due to open in 2019 will commence shortly thereafter.