Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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84. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on delays in capital building projects within her Department impacting County Mayo; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52776/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Under Project Ireland 2040, my Department is investing €5 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 strong track record of delivery of school building projects and this was achieved again in 2023 notwithstanding the wider construction sector environment of high inflation, labour shortages and supply chain issues.

Since 2020 we have invested in the region of €3.5 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 690 school building projects with construction currently underway at approximately 300 other projects. School building projects at construction involve an overall State investment of over €1.2 billion. We also have over 200 modular accommodation projects that are very well advanced for delivery or at construction stage.

This is a record level of investment in our schools and highlights the Government’s very strong track record of delivery in providing additional capacity and modern facilities for our school communities.

Since 2020, in Mayo alone, we have invested in excess of €100 million in our schools and completed 38 school building projects. Construction is underway at 10 other projects. We also have 15 modular accommodation projects that are very well advanced for delivery or at construction stage.

Projects under construction in Mayo include Scoil Naomh Brid, Culleens, which is due for completion in Quarter 1 2024. They also include Phase 1 of Davitt College, Castlebar which is providing additional accommodation and is due for completion in Q2 2024. A letter has recently issued to the patron body in relation to Phase 2 of this project.

These projects are being delivered to ambitious timeframes, and the position on individual projects evolves all the time as they advance through various stages. The current status of all projects, including those in County Mayo, is listed at www.gov.ie. This is updated on a regular basis to reflect project progress through the various stages of capital appraisal, site acquisition, design, tender and construction. The nature of a large capital programme is that timelines for delivery can vary, but the Department endeavours to manage the overall school building programme to ensure that projects are delivered in the shortest possible timeframe.