Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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146. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when she intends to sanction a new school building for a school (details supplied), as the current building and prefabs are no longer fit for purpose for the 870 children currently attending and who all started school with the promise of a new school building; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19612/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved for delivery to Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board (LCETB) for the provision of a new 32-classroom primary school and a 2-class SEN base.

Following receipt of a detailed design and planning report from LCETB's design team, my Department recommended enhancements to the project, which related principally to the proposed decarbonisation strategy and project phasing requirements for the school.

The Stage 2b addendum report requested, including an updated cost plan was recently received into my Department and is currently being reviewed by Department officials. Once this review is completed, Department officials will be in contact with LCETB in regard to the next appropriate steps to progress this significant project, which is tendering for a contractor and onwards to construction in due course.

My Department will continue to work closely with LCETB and its Design Team in this regard.

I can assure you that my Department is committed to ensuring appropriate accommodation is available for the pupils in this school and will in the wider context outlined, ensure that this school project - as for all projects on the school building programme - is subject to the due diligence required under the public Infrastructure guidelines. It is a challenging construction environment across all sectors (Education, Housing, Transport etc.) and my Department is also required to manage the timing, scope and cost of individual projects to remain within budgetary parameters for the overall programme – this involves constant review throughout the project life cycle.

Since 2020, the Department of Education has invested around €4.5 billion in schools throughout the country. Around 800 school building projects have been completed and 300 other projects are under construction. School building projects under construction involve an overall State investment of over €1.2 billion with most of these projects due for completion in 2024 and 2025. This is a record level of investment and highlights my Department’s very strong track record in providing additional capacity and modern facilities for our school communities.

The status of all projects in the pipeline, including those at tender stage, is set out by County at ( ) and is updated on a regular basis.

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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147. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department has applied for an extension of the existing planning permission for a school (details supplied) in light of current delays; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19621/24]

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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148. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills what contingency plans are in place for pupils in a school (details supplied) for the 2024/2025 school year in light of current delays with the anticipated new school building; if additional accommodation will be available; if this will be at the current site; if agreement has been reached with the local landlord in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19622/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 147 and 148 together.

The school to which the Deputy refers is currently located in interim accommodation on the Dunshaughlin GAA Site. My Department is currently working on providing additional interim accommodation in order to meet the demand for September 2024/2025 school year and expects to lodge an application for an extension to the planning permission shortly.

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 rollout recognises the priority that Government puts on investment in education, including responding to the increased requirement for special education provision.

The project for the school referred to by the Deputy currently has planning permission and will, along with a number of other projects with planning permission, be brought to the level of employer-led design with a Design Team assigned to do so under the supervision of my Department’s Project Manager. The process of appointing the Design Team from my Department’s Frameworks of Consultants was completed in September 2023 and the project is now progressing through design development stages.

My Department will continue to liaise with the school and patron body in relation to interim accommodation requirements and provide any updates in relation to progress on the school's permanent building project.