James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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250. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the projected time scale for the commencement of a tender for a school (details below); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2471/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The school referred to by the Deputy is currently completing stage 2B and tender documentation was received by my Department. This was examined and a small number of fundamental issues with the tender documents were pointed out to the Design Team on 19th December 2022. That communication was also copied to the school authorities. The Design team have been requested to review these issues and to revert to the Department when they have been resolved. On receipt of the response from the Design Team the project will then be ready to be considered for progression to tender stage.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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251. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide a schedule of the planned school developments in County Kildare, to include new schools, upgrades to existing schools, school closures and the impact of same on capacity numbers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2475/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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My Department utilises a Geographic Information System (GIS) to support its strategic planning for capital investment. Where the geo-spatial assessment of demand and capacity in an area indicates that additional provision is required my Department considers the options of extending the capacity of a school or schools, or of providing a new school or schools. The timing and duration of the accommodation need is also considered in determining the optimum accommodation solution – for example a short-term accommodation requirement does not require a long-term accommodation solution.

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 School Accommodation (ASA) scheme. These projects are currently in progress across the various stages of planning, design, tender and construction.

Details of large-scale and ASA projects being delivered under the school building programme 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 Department continues to monitor requirements for school places across the country, including across County Kildare, to identify any particular capacity requirements for the forthcoming years which may necessitate further action to that already in train.

Additionally, the Department will continue to work to advance the planned and current projects and to ensure sufficient places for both mainstream provision and for pupils with special education requirements both for the coming academic year and into the future.