Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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362. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the current and or expected position in relation to the various school building projects at primary and second-level in respect of Celbridge, County Kildare; the precise position in respect of the various planning stages for each project; the current position in regard to the various developments; the extent to which any or all are interdependent on external issues; when she expects the requirements current or expected to be met in full; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57249/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Under Project Ireland 2040, the education sector will receive a total of approximately €4.4 billion capital investment over the period 2021-2025. 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.

This investment will build on the good progress being made on adding capacity to cater for demographic changes and provision for children with special educational needs. This investment will also facilitate an increased focus on the modernisation of existing school stock and help transition the school system for an era of net zero carbon by 2050.

Approximately 1,200 school building projects are currently in progress across the various stages of planning, design, tender and construction – most of which are expected to be either under construction or completed in the period 2021 to 2025.

There are currently in excess of 250 school building projects at construction (on site) with a continuous stream of other projects at or near the tendering stage. These are being progressed as quickly as possible.

During the period 2018 to 2020 526 school building projects were completedunder the Large Scale Capital Programme (LSCP) and the Additional School Accommodation Scheme (ASA). These projects delivered in excess of 48,000 school places. 16of these projects delivered were in County Kildare; 13of those were primary schools including one special school and 3were post-primary school building projects.

There are currently 5 projects at various stages of planning and design in the Celbridge school planning area.

Current Large Scale & Additional Scheme Accommodation (ASA) Projects in Celbridge School Planning Area:

The three schools inCelbridge(St Raphael Special School, Scoil Naomh Padraig & Celbridge Community School) will be delivered as part of a campus development. The Department has reached agreement in principle with the relevant landowner for the acquisition of a site to accommodate a campus development. It is intended that this site will facilitate the construction of three schools. In tandem with the site acquisition, the Department is finalising the accommodation briefs for the three schools. This will facilitate the commencement of the architectural planning process for the project and the Department will liaise with the school authorities at that stage.

The project in Salesian College, Roll Number 61661P is currently on site.

There is currently an ASA application on hand for Straffan NS, Roll Number 18644Uand this is currently being assessed. This project is for an extension and is at project brief stage. Temporary accommodation was approved in June 2021 to accommodate the opening of a SEN class pending delivery of new build.

The current status of these projects being delivered is listed on a county by county basis on www.gov.ie and is updated on a monthly basis to reflect their progress through the stages.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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363. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the current school building project and requirements advised to her office by the various primary and second-level school authorities at Naas, County Kildare; her proposed response in respect of each case; the reason some projects have been delayed; when she expects all of the projects concerned and alerted to her Department to be advanced in line with their urgency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57250/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Under Project Ireland 2040, the education sector will receive a total of approximately €4.4 billion capital investment over the period 2021-2025. 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.

This investment will build on the good progress being made on adding capacity to cater for demographic changes and provision for children with special educational needs. This investment will also facilitate an increased focus on the modernisation of existing school stock and help transition the school system for an era of net zero carbon by 2050.

Approximately 1,200 school building projects are currently in progress across the various stages of planning, design, tender and construction – most of which are expected to be either under construction or completed in the period 2021 to 2025.

There are currently in excess of 250 school building projects at construction (on site) with a continuous stream of other projects at or near the tendering stage. These are being progressed as quickly as possible.

During the period 2018 to 2020 526 school building projects were completedunder the Large Scale Capital Programme (LSCP) and the Additional School Accommodation Scheme (ASA). These projects delivered in excess of 48,000 school places. 16of these projects delivered were in County Kildare; 13of those were primary schools including one special school and 3were post-primary school building projects.

There are currently 5 projects at various stages of planning and design in the Naas school planning area.

Current Large Scale & Additional Scheme Accommodation (ASA) Projects in Naas School Planning Area:

An Linbh Iosa, Roll Number 19597T.This project is currently at Stage 1 Design Stage.

Mercy Convent Naas, Roll No: 15040T. This is a new 32 classroom school (replacement school with an additional 4 classrooms). Construction commenced on site in May 2017. The contract terminated in March 2020. Weatherproofing works are almost complete. Tenders to issue for contractor to complete the major construction project in January 2022 with a proposed completion date June 2023.

Scoil Chorbain, Roll Number 17254C.This project is to provide a new 16 classroom school with a 2 class SEN Base on the existing site. The project has just recently been approved to Stage 2b – Detailed Design, which includes securing all statutory consents and the preparation of tender documents.

Naas Community College, Roll Number 76194S. The delivery of the project has been devolved to Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB). The substantial completion date for the project is December 2021 and the Design Team’s programme to achieve this is currently on track.

Colaiste Naomh Mhuire, Roll Number 61730I.The project for an extension and refurbishment been devolved to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) for delivery as part of a programme of school building projects. The project was recently approved by the Department to proceed to Stage 2a of the architectural planning process. While at this early stage it is not possible to provide a timeline for completion of the project, the NDFA will be engaging directly with the school authority to keep it informed of progress.

Naas Primary School, Roll Number 20542B.In 2021 the Department conducted an exercise on the necessity for the establishment of the proposed new primary school for Naas for 2022, taking into account a number of factors, including the pace of delivery of the expected additional residential development in the school planning area, associated enrolments and the capacity in existing schools in the area. The Department is satisfied that demand in Naas in 2022 can be accommodated by the existing and growing schools in this area. Based on this information the opening of this school has been deferred. No decision has been taken yet on the date of its establishment.

The Department will keep the pace of delivery of additional residential development in this school planning area, along with updated enrolment data and demographic data under review and this will inform the timing of school requirements.

The current status of these projects being delivered is listed on a county by county basis on www.gov.ie and is updated on a monthly basis to reflect their progress through the stages.