Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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155. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a review being undertaken by her Department in respect of a stage 2B submission will be finalised and the school (details supplied) contacted about the outcome of this review as it has been confirmed that it has been near completion for some time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19752/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The project to which the Deputy refers, includes an extension to the existing school buildings, decanting if required, necessary to satisfactorily develop the post primary school on its existing site to cater for an enrolment of 700 pupils. The project has been devolved for delivery to the school authority and it has appointed a design team to progress the project.

The Stage 2b architectural report has been received by my Department and is currently under review from both a technical and cost perspective. My Department will revert to the school authority directly on the outcome and the next steps to progress this significant project which is tendering for a contractor and onwards to construction in due course.

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 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 (www.gov.ie) and is updated on a regular basis.

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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156. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when it will be possible for a school (details supplied) to make a decision to go ahead with a tender for a school extension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19754/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy was approved to enter the Department’s pipeline of school buildings for a project to provide 2 Mainstream Classrooms, 2 Classroom SEN base and Early Intervention Unit. This project has been devolved for delivery to the school authority and is currently awaiting approval to construction.

My Department has a strong track record of delivery of school building projects involving circa. 300 projects currently at construction including 34 new school buildings and over 800 projects completed since 2020 notwithstanding the wider construction sector environment of high inflation, labour shortages and supply chain issues. We continue to have a strong pipeline of projects for delivery under the school building programme.

My Department has an overall pipeline of some 1300 projects across the school system. The current status of all projects is listed on a county by county basis at www.gov.ie. and this is updated on a regular basis to reflect project progress through the various stages of capital appraisal, site acquisition, design, tender and construction. Under Project Ireland 2040, we are investing over €5 billion during 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.

Last year, my Department received supplementary funding to help alleviate funding pressures which was reflective of my Department’s strong delivery of school building projects particularly to support mainstream provision accommodating Ukrainian students and special education needs provision.

My Department is committed to ensuring appropriate accommodation is available for the pupils in the school referred to by the Deputy and will in the wider context outlined, ensure that this school's project - as for all projects on our school building programme - is subject to the due diligence required under the public Infrastructure Guidelines. The project is currently being reviewed from both a technical and cost perspective in accordance with the requirements of the Public Spending Code.

The Department will be in contact with the school directly once this review has been completed.