Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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270. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on a school building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14537/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I am pleased to inform the deputy that the school in question was approved funding under the Department’s Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme.

I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has received a Pre stage 1 report from the school to which he refers. The report has been forwarded to department officials for review and my Department will be in contact with the school directly once this review has been completed.

Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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271. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on a school building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14538/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Large scale capital project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of Architectural Planning Stage 3 – tender action and award. The School is on Campus with another Special School and will be co-located at the existing site in Stillorgan.

The project brief is to provide two new 10 classroom schools, a clinic, activity rooms, assembly hall/general purpose room, playgrounds and sensory gardens. The project is currently on hold to proceed to construction due to capital funding pressures.

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.

The outcome of our engagement with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform will provide better clarity on the timelines for the progression of these projects.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.

Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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272. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on a school building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14539/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to advise that the school referred to by the Deputy will relocate to an existing building currently occupied on an interim basis by another school while awaiting the construction of a building project for that school.

In this regard, the building project for that school is at an advanced stage of the tender process. The project is currently on hold to proceed to construction due to capital funding pressures.

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.

My Department 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. My Department is aware of the urgency in getting these projects delivered as quickly as possible. The outcome of our engagement with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform will provide better clarity on the timelines for the progression of these projects. This is a key priority for me.

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 2023/2024 school year.