Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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340. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the timeline for the delivery of previously sanctioned expansions in a school (details supplied). [55178/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The school to which the Deputy refers was approved a school building project under my Department's Additional School Accommodation scheme. The brief for the project is comprised of two science laboratories with a shared preparation area, five mainstream classrooms and a four class Special Education Needs (SEN) base and ancillary accommodation. The project was devolved for delivery to the School Authority.

The School Authority appointed a design team to manage the delivery of the project and a stage 1 (preliminary design) architectural report was submitted for review to my Department. While the review was underway, the school applied for and were approved an expanded project to also include the four class SEN base, toilets and locker space in addition to that which was originally approved.

My Department officials are currently awaiting further information from the School Authority to enable the progression of the project. It is not possible at this early stage to provide a timeline for delivery of the project.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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341. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the date on which and/or if she will provide additional Portakabin arrangements to be installed in schools in Prosperous and Clane where necessary to ensure that all children currently on a waiting list will receive a school place in 2024 and 2025. [55179/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy may be aware, for school planning purposes, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System (or GIS) to anticipate school place demand. Information from a range of sources, including Child Benefit Data, school enrolment data and information on residential development activity is used for this purpose. In addition, Project Ireland 2040 population and housing targets inform the Department’s projections of school place requirements.

Having considered the projected requirements in each school planning area, including the Prosperous School Planning Area, my Department then makes an assessment of the existing capacity and identifies any requirement for additional provision. Additional provision is made as necessary, where the existing capacity is insufficient for future needs.

The Department is aware of pressures for school places in the Prosperous_Clane School Planning Area. A critical next step is to acquire clarity on the actual number of additional first year places required for 2024 in order for an appropriate solution to be put in place. In that context, schools in a number of areas of enrolment pressure, including Prosperous School Planning Area, have been requested to share data on applications for admissions. The Department is liaising closely with schools to ensure that this data is provided as soon as possible, and once it is received the actual requirement for places can be established. The Department is already having discussions with the relevant school patrons and authorities regarding potential solutions but the understanding of the actual school place needs will give clarity as to the specific actions that are required.

This close engagement with schools and patrons will also allow the Department to identify particular further capacity requirements for the forthcoming years and put any required solutions in place - beyond those that are already in train - to ensure sufficient school places to meet the needs of students in the area.

My Department has invested significantly in schools in County Kildare over recent years. Under the National Development Plan, a total of almost €250m has been invested in schools in County Kildare over the last five years. This investment has focused on provision of additional capacity to cater for its increasing population and there are further significant projects in our pipeline including for the Prosperous School Planning Area.

These projects include a number of further new school buildings and extensions are at construction or planned, including a new school buildings in Prosperous School Planning Area.

The Capital Programme details the school projects that are being progressed under Project Ireland 2040. The current status of large-scale projects being delivered under Project Ireland 2040, including projects in the school planning areas in question, may be viewed on my Department's website at,www.gov.ie and this information is updated regularly. In addition, a list of large-scale projects completed from 2010 to date may also be viewed on the website.

I can assure the Deputy that Department officials will continue to actively engage with schools and patrons to ensure that there is appropriate provision for all students across Prosperous School Planning Area for the 2024/25 school year and into the future.

Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
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342. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the current status of a 2021 agreement between her Department and the Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education Training Board in relation to a permanent extension to a school (details supplied); the expected realistic timeframe for commencement of procurement for the promised phase two permanent extension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55190/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department and Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education Training Board (DDLETB) agreed in early 2021 to increase the capacity of the school in question to 1,500 places. There was no timeframe determined for this increase but it was expected that there would be a gradual increase in enrolments over a number of years.

In order to facilitate an initial increase in enrolments, modular accommodation was provided at the school in 2022. As a result of continued engagement between my Department and DDLETB it has been agreed to provide further modular accommodation at the school for the 2024/25 school year and a subsequent traditional construction project to deliver the remaining accommodation.

In relation to the timeframe for commencement of procurement for the phase two permanent extension, the department is not in a position to guarantee a definitive timeline. As the Deputy will appreciate the progress of the project depends on a multitude of factors such as any identified technical challenges, statutory consents, procurement etc., many of which are outside of the department's control.

My Department continues to work closely with DDLETB to advance both of these projects as quickly as possible.

School building projects at construction involve an overall State investment of over €1.2 billion. There are also 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.

I can assure the Deputy that my department is very cognisant of the urgency around the delivery of accommodation for the new school year and is working to advance matters as quickly as possible. The provision of required school places, including for children with special educational needs, is a priority for my department. My officials are working to ensure that there is sufficient provision to meet the school place needs in the school in question and the wider school planning area for future years.

Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
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343. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the funding and timing of the short-term solution to be delivered via her Department’s modular accommodation framework for a school (details supplied); if she is committed to having a workable solution in place for September 2024; the status of the appointment of the project manager to deliver this short-term modular solution; the status of phase two and the promised permanent extension to be delivered via a traditional construction project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55191/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has agreed the need for additional accommodation at the school in question.

The school's accommodation will be delivered in two phases. Phase one will see the delivery of accommodation to meet the school’s most immediate needs through the department's modular accommodation framework and will consist of reconfiguration of two science labs to provide two special education classrooms, and modular accommodation for two science labs, one prep area and four general classrooms.

In support of the expedited delivery of critical school accommodation my department has put in place a Modular Accommodation Framework. The use of the Department’s Modular Accommodation Framework also assists in ensuring lead in periods for procurement of modular accommodation are minimised to the greatest extent possible. In addition, my Department has put new project manager supports in place to assist schools with the delivery of this critical modular accommodation. The Project Manager Framework is designed to enable the accommodation to be provided as quickly as possible and to help ease the administrative workload for school authorities in relation to the management and delivery of projects.

The Modular Accommodation Framework solution:

· Has significant benefits in terms of delivery timelines;

· Minimises the impact of the project on the operation of the school;

· Provides quality and sustainable accommodation that meets building regulation requirements and is Near Zero Energy Building (NZEB) compliant; and

· Climate proofing of the accommodation, given that the modular accommodation has the added benefit of utilising decarbonised heating sources which should also help with the school’s energy profile and costs.

It is not possible to give a definitive timeline for delivery of the project however my officials, through the engagement of the school’s patron and the project manager will endeavour to deliver this project as quickly as possible. It is targeted to have the accommodation in place either in advance of the 2024/25 school year or early in the first term.

Phase two which consists of a traditional construction project comprising six general classrooms, one music room, two design computer graphics rooms, one home economics room, two graphics rooms, one engineering/ construction studies/technology room and two special education classrooms. My officials are working with the school’s patron with a view to advancing this project to the next stage, which is to appoint a Design Team, in the coming weeks.

The department is not in a position to guarantee a definitive timeline for phase two of the school's project. As the Deputy will appreciate the progress of the project depends on a multitude of factors such as any identified technical challenges, statutory consents, procurement etc., many of which are outside of the department's control.

I can assure the Deputy that my department is very cognisant of the urgency around the delivery of accommodation for the new school year and is working to advance matters as quickly as possible. The provision of required school places, including for children with special educational needs, is a priority for my department. My officials are working to ensure that there is sufficient provision to meet the school place needs in the school in question and the wider school planning area for future years.

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has very recently received an application from the school to which the Deputy refers, for funding under the Emergency Works Scheme (EWS). This application is currently being assessed by the Department's emergency works team, the school will be kept informed throughout the process.