Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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143. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on the capital project for a school (details supplied); if a timeframe can be provided as to the commencement of the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25363/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The permanent school building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is to deliver a 1,000 pupil post-primary school and accommodation, including four classrooms, for children with special educational needs on a site being acquired from South Dublin County Council. This project is being delivered under the Department's Design and Build programme.

I am pleased to advise that this project has been approved to proceed to tender. The Invitation to Tender issued on the 18th April 2023, as part of a bundle of projects issued to a Framework of Design & Build Contractors.

The tender process currently takes approximately 8-10 months. Once a Contractor has been appointed, it is anticipated that construction would commence shortly thereafter. My Department has been in contact with the school in relation to the formal arrangements and next steps in respect of same.

Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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144. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide a breakdown, by county, of the number of new school builds between 2016 to 2019, in tabular form; if she will provide a similar breakdown, by county, of the number of new school builds between 2020 and to date in 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25364/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Through Project Ireland 2040, we are investing €4.4 billion over the period 2021 to 2025, to add capacity and develop and upgrade school facilities across the country for the almost one million students and over 100,000 staff that learn and work in our schools every day.

My Department has a proven track record of delivery. During the period 2018 to 2022, nearly 900 school building projects were completed.

The key drivers of capital investment in the schools sector are as follows:

•demographic change, including keeping pace with delivery of SEN and accommodation for Ukrainian pupils particularly at Post Primary

•alignment with housing provision and national planning at school planning area level,

•construction costs,

•climate action objectives including deep energy retrofit.

My Department completed over 180 projects last year within a challenging construction sector environment of high inflation, labour shortages and supply chain issues. This year alone, in excess of 300 school building projects are currently under construction, including 40 new school buildings and 260 projects at existing schools.

Key priorities for my Department are supporting the operation of the school system and adding necessary capacity to cater for special education needs provision, mainstream demographics and catering for students from Ukraine and other countries under the International Protection system.

The current status of all school building projects from 2010 to date is listed on a county by county basis at www.gov.ieand is updated on a regular basis to reflect their progress through the various stages of capital appraisal, site acquisition, design, tender and construction.