Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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185. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a revised building works approval will issue to a school in County Kerry (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20184/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I can confirm to the Deputy that the school referred to was approved to enter my Department’s pipeline of school buildings for a project to provide for 1 mainstream classroom, to include alterations to the existing school to provide SET facilities, under my Department's Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme. The responsibility for this project has been devolved to the school authority.

A Stage 2b report and a request for an uplift in fees has been submitted and 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 these matters have been reviewed.

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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186. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a school build (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20194/24]

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).

I can confirm that the recommended enhancements referred to by the Deputy were incorporated into the requested Stage 2b addendum report submitted into my Department and this 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 (www.gov.ie) and is updated on a regular basis.