David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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101. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the engagement and research her Department has undertaken and is undertaking to upgrade existing second level schools and to provide new second level schools in east Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50022/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Capital Programme details the school projects that are being progressed under Project Ireland 2040. The current status of large-scale projects being delivered under Project Ireland 2040, including projects in the area in question, may be viewed on my Department's website at, www.gov.ie and this information is updated regularly. In addition, a list of large-scale projects completed from 2010 to date may also be viewed on the website.

The Capital Programme also provides for devolved funding for additional classrooms, including accommodation for pupils with special educational needs, if required, for schools where an additional enrolment need has been identified or where an additional teacher has been appointed. Details of schools listed on this programme (the Additional Accommodation Scheme) can also be found on my Department's website at www.gov.ie and this information is also updated regularly.

Specifically, in east Cork, there are a number of significant school building projects providing additional capacity at post primary level:

- Carrigtwohill Community College (76333G) is a co-educational post primary school with an enrolment of 535 for the 2021/2022 school year. A project to provide a permanent school building for 1,000 pupils is currently at Stage 4. Interim accommodation has been approved for the 2022/23 school year consisting of 6 general classrooms, 1 home economics room, 1 Class SEN base and 2 social spaces pending delivery of new build.

- St Aloysius College, Carrigtwohill, (62140P) is an all girls post primary school with an enrolment of 792 for the 2021/2022 school year. A project to facilitate its expansion to cater for 1,000 pupils 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 907 pupils for the 2021/22 school year. A project to facilitate its expansion to cater for 1,000 pupils has been devolved to the school authority for delivery.

- St Mary’s High School, Midleton (62380M) is an all girls’ post primary school with an enrolment of 758 pupils for the 2021/2022 school year. In respect of the 2022/23 academic year the Department is working closely with CEIST as patron of St. Mary’s High School, Midleton to deliver interim accommodation at this school to facilitate provision of the required school places. The Department continues to engage with the school patron in respect of a project for a new school building for St. Mary’s High school.

- Pobailscoil na Trionóide, Youghal, (91513S) is a co-educational post primary school with an enrolment of 1005 pupils for the 2021/2022 school year. A project to facilitate its expansion to cater for 1,200 pupils has been devolved to the school authority for delivery. Interim accommodation was approved for the 2021/22 school year to facilitate school expansion (6 classroom units)

- Coláiste Mhuire, Cobh (62180E) is a co-educational school which had an enrolment of 702 pupils for the 2021/2022 school year. A devolved grant has been approved to the school to facilitate its expansion.

- St Colman's Community College, Midleton (71050P) - Funding approved in 2022 to provide Modular accommodation to cater for LTPE of 1300 pupils.

The main focus of resources over the last decade has been on provision of additional capacity to cater for increasing demographics, particularly at post-primary level and for special education needs provision. However, under Project Ireland 2040 there will be an increasing focus on the upgrade and refurbishment of the existing school stock.