Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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265. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the breakdown of the allocation in 2019 for the prefab replacement scheme; the dates in 2019 each construction project is expected to commence; if this will be impacted by the cost overrun with the national children's hospital; if he has been consulted by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6792/19]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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My Department's capital allocation in 2019 is €941m of which €672m is being allocated for capital spending in primary and post-primary schools. The school sector allocation will be expended primarily on the delivery of large scale projects and on the Additional Accommodation Scheme. Since mid-2018 all schools approved additional accommodation under my Department Additional Accommodation Scheme are also having all necessary prefabs replaced as part of their additional accommodation project. The timing of when these projects go to construction is a matter for the school authority as all projects are devolved for delivery.

Typically, expenditure levels of between 70% and 80% of the capital allocation available to schools annually is in respect of large scale projects and the Additional Accommodation Scheme. The balance available in 2019 will be expended on site acquisitions, the Summer Works Scheme, the Emergency Works Scheme, furniture and equipment provision and other smaller programmes.

Information in relation to the current status of all school building projects is available on my Departments web-site and this information is updated on a regular basis.

I understand that the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform will clarify following today’s Cabinet meeting how cost pressures relating to the National Children’s Hospital will be addressed.