Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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73. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will ensure that a school (details supplied) in County Louth receives priority funding to commence the long awaited project which the school have been patiently waiting for 12 years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13918/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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A major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is included in my Department's school building programme.

The project is to provide a new 8-classroom school building which will also incorporate special classes.

The delivery of this project has been devolved to Louth County Council, which will act as the contracting authority for the project. The project is currently at tender stage with the supplementary tender report recently received in my Department.

I am very appreciative of the strong support provided by Government for our education budget. As part of the supplementary budget in 2022, €300m additional capital funding was provided. This helped to alleviate capital funding pressures that arose in 2022 which was reflective of the strong delivery by my Department of school building projects – particularly to support mainstream provision and special education needs provision. My Department’s overall capital outturn for 2022 was €1.12 billion.

My Department's Planning and Building Unit is currently assessing its work programme and priorities for 2023 in the context of its available funding. My Department's published NDP allocation for 2023 is €860 million. High construction inflation remains a continuing feature of the construction sector for 2023. As part of its planning ahead for the remainder of 2023, my Department is engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform in relation to capital funding pressures in order to continue to adequately support the operation of the school system with rollout of school building projects to construction in 2023.

We are currently at a very advanced stage with these discussions. Progress has been made and I am anxious to bring this to resolution very soon. I want to reassure the Deputy and the relevant school communities that school building projects that are currently on hold due to capital funding pressures will be progressed and delivered – it is a question of timing. I am very conscious of the urgency in getting these projects delivered as quickly as possible and this is a key priority for me. I have engaged directly with Minister Donohoe on this matter and will continue to do so with a view to getting our funding pressures resolved as quickly as possible. I am deeply appreciative of the support which has been offered by Minister Donohoe and his Department in this regard.

We will be providing an update to individual schools when our engagement with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform concludes. In tandem with this, my Department’s Planning & Building Unit will also be updating Patron Bodies and School Management Bodies at that stage. Key priorities for my Department's work programme include continuing strong delivery to support the operation of the school system with particular regard to planning ahead for the 2023/24 school year and beyond, and also with particular regard to supporting special needs provision.

The current status of all projects are listed on a county by county basis at www.gov.ie. and is updated on a regular basis to reflect their progress through the various stages of capital appraisal, site acquisition, design, tender and construction.

I want to reassure the Deputy of my commitment to getting this project delivered as quickly as possible.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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74. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on Project Nore, in particular in relation to schools (details supplied). [13923/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The school accommodation ‘Project Nore' bundle is comprised of seven school projects which is devolved for delivery to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA). The two schools referred to by the Deputy have been approved major building projects by my Department and are included in the ‘Project Nore’ bundle. The briefs for the two respective schools comprise are for a new eight classroom special school and a large scale extension and refurbishment to cater for 1,000 mainstream pupils with special class provision included.

The "Project Nore" bundle is currently at Stage 3 which is the tender process. Tenders have been received and are being evaluated as part of the Tender Assessment Report.

I am very appreciative of the strong support provided by Government for our education budget.

My Department's published NDP allocation for 2023 is €860 million. High construction inflation remains a continuing feature of the construction sector for 2023. As part of its planning ahead for the remainder of 2023, my Department is engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform in relation to capital funding pressures in order to continue to adequately support the operation of the school system with rollout of school building projects to construction in 2023. I am very appreciative of the support and engagement which has been offered by the Department and Minister Donohoe in this regard.

We are currently at a very advanced stage with these discussions. Progress has been made and I am anxious to bring this to resolution very soon. I want to reassure the Deputy and the relevant school communities that school building projects that are currently on hold due to capital funding pressures will be progressed and delivered – it is a question of timing. I am well aware of the urgency in getting these projects delivered as quickly as possible.

We will be providing an update to individual schools when our engagement with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform concludes. In tandem with this, my Department’s Planning & Building Unit will also be updating Patron Bodies and School Management Bodies at that stage. Key priorities for my Department's work programme include continuing strong delivery to support the operation of the school system with particular regard to planning ahead for the 2023/24 school year and beyond, and also with particular regard to supporting special needs provision. The current status of all projects are listed on a county by county basis at www.gov.ie. and is updated on a regular basis to reflect their progress through the various stages of capital appraisal, site acquisition, design, tender and construction.

I want to reassure the Deputy of my commitment to getting these projects delivered as quickly as possible.