Written answers

Tuesday, 23 November 2021

Department of Education and Skills

Schools Building Projects

Photo of Catherine ConnollyCatherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

146. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the details of the audits carried out by her Department in respect of existing school buildings in Galway city, both vacant and occupied, to ascertain the need for the construction of additional school buildings in the city to accommodate rising student numbers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57190/21]

Photo of Norma FoleyNorma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System (GIS), using data from a range of sources, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise. With this information, the Department carries out nationwide demographic exercises to determine where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary level. This information provides a degree of certainty in projecting demand in an area in future years.

Where an additional school place demand is identified, the need can be met by one or more of the following options:

- utilizing spare capacity in existing schools

- expansion of existing schools

- establishment of a new school

In that assessment of appropriate solutions, my Department considers a national inventory of school capacity which is completed by individual schools. When schools are providing their annual 30 September enrolment returns to the Department in respect of the Primary On-line Database (POD) for primary schools and Post-Primary On-line Database (PPOD) for post-primary schools, they are now also requested to provide information in respect of overall demand for school places and available capacity within their schools. The compilation and analysis of this information at local, regional and national level through the Department's GIS is an important additional feature of the school planning process.

As the Deputy will be aware, a new 1,000 pupil post primary school, Galway ETSS, was established in 2019 to serve the Galway City and Oranmore school planning areas as a regional solution. My Department is currently working to secure a site for the school's new permanent building.

My Department also has building projects at primary, post primary and special schools in Galway City, including:

- A new school building for St. Joseph's College

- A major extension at Coláiste Mhuire Máthair

- New school buildings for Scoil Caitriona Junior and Senior Schools

- A new school building for Cuan na Gaillimhe CNS

- A new school building for Rosedale Special School

My Department is aware of vacant former school properties in Galway City, and of properties which may become vacant as a result of school building projects. These properties are in the ownership of third-parties, but in all instances across the country, such properties are considered as part of my Department's assessment of potential solutions for school accommodation needs and my Department engages with the relevant property owners as appropriate.

This multi-faceted approach enhances my Department’s capacity to plan the provision of essential school places across all school planning areas including Galway city.

Photo of Richard Boyd BarrettRichard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

148. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will report on the school building programme including the number of schools without permanent sites, without permanent buildings and also without even a temporary site; her plans to address these very serious shortfalls; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57331/21]

Photo of Norma FoleyNorma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I wish to advise the Deputy that my 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.

This involves in excess of 1,200 school building projects across the various stages of planning, design, tender and construction. The current status of these projects being delivered is listed on a county by county basis on the Department of Education's website at and is updated on a monthly basis.

Under Project Ireland 2040, the education sector will receive a total of approximately €4.4 billion capital investment over the period 2021-2025. There will be a rolling 5 year funding envelope which will be updated annually for the period 2026 to 2030 within the Government’s overall NDP funding envelope of €136 billionin exchequer capital (€165 billiontotal capital including non-Exchequer) that will facilitate building a modern and sustainable school infrastructure.

This significant investment allows us to move forward with certainty on our ambitious plans and deliver high quality building projects, with a real focus on sustainability, for school communities across Ireland.

The specific information requested by the Deputy relating to sites is not readily available in the format requested. However, the information available is being collated by my Department and will be made available to the Deputy shortly.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.