Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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218. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update on the school building programme in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49827/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Through Project Ireland 2040, we are investing at least €5 billion over the period 2021 to 2025, to add capacity and develop and upgrade school facilities across the country for 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 date, 172 projects were completed in Cork. The total capital investment in school building infrastructure in Cork during the period 2018 to date is over €621 million. This relates to all areas of capital expenditure including Minor Works Grant funding, Emergency Works projects, Summer Works projects, Furniture and Equipment etc.

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 level,

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

• climate action objectives including deep energy retrofit.

There are 186 projects ongoing under the Large Scale and Additional Accommodation Schemes in Cork. The current status of all projects and completions from 2010 to date is 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.

In addition, where accelerated delivery of accommodation is required, the Department utilises its Modular Accommodation Framework to provide critical mainstream school places and places for students with special educational needs. There are currently 51 Modular Accommodation projects underway in Cork.

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.