Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Since 2020, my department has invested in the region of €4.5 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 800 school building projects. Construction is currently underway at approximately 300 other projects, which includes 31 new school buildings. Projects at construction involve a total State investment of over €1.2bn.

I recently announced that close to 90 school building projects currently at tender stage will be authorised to proceed to construction over the course of 2024 and early 2025. In total, around €800 million will be invested in these projects under the department’s Large Scale Capital Programme and Additional Accommodation Scheme for essential classroom accommodation.

This level of construction roll-out recognises the priority that Government puts on investment in education, including responding to the increased requirement for special education provision.

I can assure the Deputy that the major building project for Scoil Chiaráin Special School is a significant priority for my Department.

While the original project brief was to deliver a new extension and refurbishment of the current school building, it was agreed, following a review by the Design Team to revise the project scope to deliver a new replacement school at the current site in Glasnevin.

The current building dates from the late 1970s. The new building will provide purpose-built accommodation for students with special educational needs, ranging in age from 4 to 18 years. This will comprise 20 mainstream classrooms, along with additional specialised rooms including Art, Home Economics, Woodwork, a Library, GP Room, Dining Space, Sensory Room, dedicated therapy rooms and all associated ancillary accommodation. The accommodation will take into consideration the specific needs of the students of Scoil Chiaráin.

The project for Scoil Chiaráin is being delivered as part of my Department’s ADAPT Programme. The ADAPT Programme uses a professional external Project Manager to achieve the best possible timeframe for the project through the stages of Architectural Planning to Tender and Construction.

The project is currently close to completion of Stage 2(b) of the architectural design process. Stage 2(b) involves detailed design and the preparation of tender documentation. The next stage, subject to relevant Stage 2(b) approvals, will be Stage 3, tender stage. Projects are subject to relevant due diligence by my Department at each stage in the process, within the context of overall programme and budgetary parameters.

In late March, following a review of National Development Plan allocations, the Government approved medium term capital allocations for the Department of Education for the period to 2026. The Department’s Planning and Building Unit is now reviewing its programme plans in the context of those recently confirmed allocations.

Special schools are a particular priority for my Department’s school building programme and I know the new building for Scoil Chiaráin will be transformative for the school community.

Department officials will keep the school authorities updated on progress and next steps.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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70. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when she will meet the board of management of a school (details supplied) and urgently review the decision by her Department not to include the school in the school capital buildings programme; and if she has received correspondence from the board of management of the school, confirming that it can provide an alternative and appropriate site for a new school at no cost to the State. [16350/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I am pleased to advise the Deputy that the school in question has received approval in principle for a building project under my department’s Additional School Accommodation, or ASA, scheme. The project will provide for two mainstream classrooms and two special education teaching rooms. This project is currently at Stage 3, tender stage.

In addition, further approval was provided under the ASA scheme in 2022 for modular accommodation to provide one mainstream classroom and two special education tuition rooms. In early 2023, the brief for the school was reviewed and a further special education needs classroom was added to the scope. This project is currently on site under construction.

I can confirm to the Deputy that the department is in receipt of a letter dated the 28^th February 2024 from the Board of Management of the school in question in relation to the acquisition of a greenfield site by the school.

The department is required to manage the overall school building programme so that we target and prioritise areas that are under greatest pressure for additional school places. This reflects the department’s fundamental objective of ensuring the availability of a school place for every child.

The main focus of the department’s capital funding over the last decade and for the coming period is on provision of critical additional capacity to cater for increasing demographics and children with special education needs. The overall position with regard to potential modernisation and replacement of existing school infrastructure will be kept under review.

I would note that the level of additional accommodation already being progressed for the school under reference, both under the modular and traditional-build ASA programmes, will significantly improve the teaching and learning environment.

Modular accommodation being provided to schools today is high quality, robust and durable. All new buildings, including modular buildings, are required to meet the Near Zero Energy Building, or NZEB, standard, which ensures high levels of energy efficiency, thermal performance and sustainability.

Since 2020, the Department of Education has invested in the region of €4.5 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 800 school building projects with construction currently underway at approximately 300 other projects. The 300 projects currently at construction involve a total State investment of over €1.2bn.

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.

In Co Donegal alone, since 2020, my Department has invested €123.5m in our schools and completed 35 school building projects.

I also recently announced that close to 90 projects currently at the tender stage, which includes the ASA project for the school under reference, will be authorised to proceed to construction over the course of 2024 and early 2025. In total, around €800 million will be invested in these projects under the department’s Large Scale Capital Programme and Additional Accommodation Scheme for essential classroom accommodation.

The Department’s approach is to maximise the usage of existing capacity in the school estate and, in tandem with this, to manage the progression of the existing pipeline of projects within available budgets and in line with the Government’s Infrastructure Guidelines.