Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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269. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number and location of primary schools throughout County Kildare with a requirement for improvement and upgrade works of a major or minor nature; the extent to which such works are in hand or currently scheduled; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35739/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I would like to inform the Deputy that the responsibility for maintaining schools and their grounds lies with the relevant school authority in the first instance.

The main grant funding mechanisms for undertaking works of the nature referred to by the Deputy are the Annual Minor Works Grant or the Summer Works Scheme. The Minor Works Grant last issued to primary schools in December 2020 and provides flexibility for schools to manage and prioritise necessary small-scale works.

The Summer Works Scheme provides a mechanism for undertaking medium to larger-scale improvement works in school buildings. This Scheme operates on a multi-annual basis and the Department are currently addressing category 2 and 6 projects (toilets and roofs). There are currently 8 Schools in Kildare who have SWS projects under these Categories details of which can be found on my Departments Website.

The Emergency Works Scheme is available to all recognised Primary and Post Primary Schools to provide funding in an Emergency Situation. An emergency is a situation which poses an immediate risk to health, life, property or the environment, which is sudden, unforeseen and requires immediate action and, in the case of a school, if not corrected would prevent the school or part thereof from opening. There are currently 17 approved Emergency Works Scheme projects ongoing in Kildare.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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270. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which she and her Department have agreed to provide new second-level schools at precise locations throughout County Kildare; the extent to which such works are in hand or ongoing; the schedule for the projects concerned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35740/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The current NDP, as part of Project Ireland 2040 framework, provides for €8.8bn investment in schools during the period 2018 to 2027. The increased investment under the NDP has positioned the State to focus on adding capacity to cater for increased enrolments and demographic needs.

During the NDP period 2018-2020, there were 526 completed building projects under the Large Scale Capital Programme (LSCP) and the Additional School Accommodation Scheme (ASA). These projects delivered in excess of 48,000 school places, including permanent accommodation for 229 special classes; and additional capacity for 67 classrooms in 14 special schools throughout the country. 17 of these projects delivered were in County Kildare.

The Department has a significant existing pipeline of projects to be delivered over the coming years to meet capacity needs managed under the Large Scale Capital Programme and the Additional School Accommodation Scheme. 51 of these projects are in County Kildare. 30 of these projects are on the Large Scale Capital Programme, of which 12 are Post Primary projects. There are 21 projects on the Additional Accommodation Programme of which 7 are Post Primary projects.

The current status of these projects being delivered is listed on a county by county basis on the Department of Education and Skill’s website at www.education.ie and updated regularly. It should be noted that at individual project level, Design teams are required to provide a delivery programme to school authorities and to keep them updated on progress of their projects including through the provision of monthly progress reports.

Large Scale Capital Programme

Status of Current Projects – Post Primary

Additional Accommodation Programme

Status of Current Projects – Post Primary