James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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420. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding school building and expansion projects in east County Cork due to a shortage of school places to meet the high demand; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54275/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has a number of building projects planned and in train to ensure sufficient capacity is in place to meet the need for post primary school places in East Cork.

These projects are being progressed through the School Building Programme and through the Additional School Accommodation Programme (ASA Scheme). Progress on the projects on both programmes can be tracked on the Department's website at www.education.ie.

My Department has recently approved grant under the Additional School Accommodation Scheme (ASA) for the following schools:

- St Aloysius College, Carrigtwohill, (62140P) is an all girls’ post primary school with an enrolment of 792 for the 2020/2021 school year. My Department has approved additional accommodation to the school to facilitate the school's expansion to cater for 1,000 pupils. The project has been devolved to the school authority for delivery.

- Christian Brothers' Secondary School Midleton (62360G) is an all-boys' post primary school with an enrolment of 880 pupils for the 2020/21 school year. An application for additional accommodation has been received and my Department is liaising with the school in this regard.

- St Mary’s High School, Midleton (62380M) is an all girls’ post primary school with an enrolment of 736 pupils for the 2020/2021 school year. My Department has approved additional accommodation to the school to facilitate the school’s expansion to cater for 750 pupils.

- Pobailscoil na Trionóide, Youghal, (91513S)is a co-educational post primary school with an enrolment of 988 pupils for the 2020/2021 school year. A devolved grant has been approved to the school to facilitate the school’s expansion to cater for 1,200 pupils. The project has been devolved to the school authority for delivery.

- Coláiste Mhuire, Cobh (62180E)is a co-educational school which had an enrolment of 657 pupils for the 2020/2021 school year. A devolved grant has been approved to facilitate the school’s expansion to cater for 700 pupils.

The following projects are included on the School Building Programme:

Carrigtwohill Community College (R/N 76333G) – construction of a new 1,000 pupil school as part of a campus development. The Department has also approved further additional interim accommodation for the 2022/2023 school year pending provision of the new school. The award of the building contract to the successful Contractor is anticipated in Quarter 1 of 2022. Once a Contractor has been appointed, my Department will keep the school informed of the construction programme underpinning the contract.

Carrignafoy Community College Cobh - A building project to expand this school's capacity to 600 pupils is at the early stages of architectural planning and the project is being delivered by the patron, Cork ETB.

In addition, a building project that will provide capacity for 1,000 pupils was completed recently at St. Colman's Community College, Midleton. The school had an enrolment of 778 pupils in 2020/21.