Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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594.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 333 of 14 May 2024, if the stage 2B report, under review from both a financial and technical perspective, has concluded (details supplied); if so, the outcome of said review; when a decision on the matter will issue; the next steps in the process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30990/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, the school in question was approved to enter the department’s pipeline of school buildings under my department's Additional Schools Accommodation (ASA) Scheme to provide a mainstream classroom and a special education tuition room.

The stage 2B architectural report was submitted to my department and is nearing completion of its required financial and technical review. My department is committed to ensuring appropriate accommodation is available for the pupils in the school referred to by the Deputy and will 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. 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 lifecycle.My department will be in contact with the school directly on the outcome of this review.

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, planning, tender and construction. Since 2020, my department has invested in the region of €4.9 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 900 school building projects and with construction currently underway at approximately 300 other projects, which includes 30 new school buildings. These 300 projects currently at construction involve a total State investment of over €1.2bn. This is a record level of investment in school buildings. It will expand the number of school places, significantly increase provision for special education and upgrade and modernise our school infrastructure. The impact of this will be felt in communities right around the country.

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. This allows the Department to keep a strong focus on the provision of additional capacity to cater for demographics, new housing developments and the rollout of additional special classes for children with additional needs. The Department’s Modular Accommodation Programme is also used to provide additional capacity in the school estate to meet urgent requirements. The Department has always operated a tightly prioritised approach to the school building programme, focused over recent years on the delivery of additional capacity where required, and this will continue to be the case.