Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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286. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the details of the expenditure on new school buildings and refurbishment of existing buildings since 27 June 2020, by county in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60300/22]

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.

My Department has a large pipeline of projects for delivery under the school building programme. The main elements of this pipeline currently involve in excess of 1,300 school building projects for delivery under the Department’s Large Scale and Additional Accommodation Scheme. These 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 up to 2025.

There are currently in excess of 300 school building projects at construction (on site) with a continuous stream of other projects at or near the tendering stage.

It is envisaged that the Department will deliver between 150-200 school building projects per annum between 2022-2025 period.

During the period 2018 to 2021 691 school building projects were completed under the Large Scale Capital Programme (LSCP) and the Additional School Accommodation Scheme (ASA).  These projects delivered in excess of 64,000 school places.

A list of all capital projects completed under the Large Scale and Additional Accommodation Scheme, in county order, from 2010 to date may be viewed my Department’s website at www.education.ie. 

The current status of all projects is also listed on a county by county basis on the website.  This is updated on a monthly basis to reflect their progress through the various stages of capital appraisal, site acquisition, design, tender and construction.

In addition to that, my Department operates a multi-annual Summer Works Scheme, Emergency works Scheme, Pathfinder Programme and Minor Works Grant Scheme which together aim to improve and maintain school buildings.

The table below shows the total capital expenditure under the School Building Programme for each county since the formation of the Government.

Expenditure on new school buildings, extension and refurbishment of existing buildings

27 June 2020 to date