Written answers

Tuesday, 25 June 2019

Department of Education and Skills

Schools Building Projects Status

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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46. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which he expects to meet the requirements and objections as set out in the school building programme by county throughout 2019; if he remains satisfied that the objective as set out can be met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26588/19]

Photo of Joe McHughJoe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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Under Project Ireland 2040, the Department continues to make progress to increase the infrastructural capacity in the schools sector nationally, in order to meet demographic and other demands.

In 2019, capital allocation for the school sector amounts to €622m which is an increase of €80m on the allocation for 2018.

It is anticipated that construction activity in 2018 and 2019 will deliver approx. 40,000 additional and replacement school places. This will facilitate the replacement of over 600 prefabs which is a key element of our prefab replacement programme. It will also facilitate the provision/modernisation of the sports facilities and science laboratories in these schools.

In April 2018, the Government announced plans for the establishment of 42 new schools over the next four years (2019 to 2022). This announcement followed nationwide demographic exercises carried out by my Department into the future need for primary and post-primary schools across the country and the 4-year horizon will enable increased lead-in times for planning and delivery of the necessary infrastructure.A new 16 classroom primary school (to be established in September 2019) in Ashbourne and a new special school in Dublin 15 were also announced in 2019 bringing the overall total to 44.

As the deputy is aware I announced details of the structural remediation programme last week which has now commenced.

My Department regularly updates the current position on all projects on the school building programme and this information is available in county format on my Department's website at www.education.ie.

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