Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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748.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the progress being made in the school building programme planned for a school in County Louth (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32371/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The school referred to by the Deputy was approved to enter the department’s pipeline of school buildings for a project to provide a 2 classroom Special Education Needs base, 2 mainstream classrooms and a technical graphics room. The project has been devolved for delivery to the school authority.

A Stage 2B architectural report by the school's design team was received and has been reviewed by officials in my department. Officials were in contact with the school authority in April this year to advise that a revised Stage 2b report would be required for their Additional Schools Accommodation project. Once received by my department, this report will be review and the outcome of this review will be communicated to the school authority directly. My department also granted approval to construction of a Special Educational Needs modular classroom which is expected to reach practical completion later this year.

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.

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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749.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if there are plans to streamline the school building programme application model; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32372/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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My department is constantly reviewing demographics areas to analyse further accommodation requirements or projects that need to be added to our building programme. My department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System (GIS), using data from a range of sources, including Child Benefit and school enrolment data, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise and where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary level.

Where demographic data indicates that additional provision is required, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may, be provided through:

• Utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools,

• Extending the capacity of a school or schools,

• Provision of a new school or schools.

With regard to the school building programme, a record level of investment in school buildings is expanding capacity in our school estate, facilitating a significant increase in special educational needs provision, and upgrading and modernising school infrastructure.

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.

I also announced earlier in the year that close to 90 projects, including 28 new school buildings, would be authorised to proceed from tender stage 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.

Between projects currently under construction and projects moving to construction in this latest phase, investments by the Department of Education are adding over 550,000 square metres of new and modernised capacity to our school estate.

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 appraisal of school accommodation requirements is complex, and considers various technical, demographic, and operational issues. In that context, there is a requirement for significant direct engagement with schools, including the provision of detailed information as part of the application process.

Nevertheless, my department continues to streamline its processes, including through the use of Information Technology as evidenced in the recent Schools Photovoltaic Programme. The application process for this programme was operated using my department’s online School Hub portal. A simplified application process has also been introduced for schools seeking to reconfigure existing accommodation to facilitate special classes. My department will continue to work to identify further opportunities for the streamlining of the application process for building projects for schools.

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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750.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if there are plans to extend the building at a secondary school in County Louth (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32373/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System, using data from a range of sources, including CSO Census data, Child Benefit and school enrolment data, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise and where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary level.

Major new residential developments have the potential to alter the demand for school places at a local level. In that regard, as part of the demographic demand analysis, my Department monitors planning and construction activity in the residential sector. This involves the analysis of data sources from Local Authorities and the CSO along with the engagement with local authorities and the construction sector. In this way, up-to-date information on significant new residential developments is obtained and factored into the demographic analysis exercise. This is necessary to ensure that schools infrastructure planning is keeping pace with demographic changes, at a local level, where there is a constantly evolving picture with planned new residential development.

The 2023 demographic exercise indicates that 79% of the 314 school planning areas at primary level show static or decreasing enrolments for the period to 2027 compared with 2022. At post-primary level some 78% of school planning areas are anticipated to have increased enrolments for the period to 2030, with most expected to reach a peak within the next two or three years.

The Department’s 2023 demographic projections exercise forecasts that there will be a slight increase in demand for post primary school places in the Dundalk SPA with the projected peak year in 2027. First year enrolments are projected to peak in 2026.

Where demographic data indicates that additional provision is required, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may, be provided through:

• Utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools,

• Extending the capacity of a school or schools,

• Provision of a new school or schools.

If additional accommodation is required, the aim to try and facilitate this, as much as possible, by way of expansion of existing schools rather than establishing new schools. The expansion of existing schools is consistent with wider Government objectives under Project Ireland 2040 for an increased emphasis on compact growth.

The Capital Programme details the school projects that are being progressed under Project Ireland 2040. The current status of large-scale projects being delivered under Project Ireland 2040, may be viewed on the Department's website at, and this information is updated regularly. In addition, a list of large-scale projects completed from 2010 to date may also be viewed on the website.

The Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in the area. In relation to school admissions, it is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998.

An application for additional accommodation has not been received by the school in question.

The Department will continue to keep the school place requirements in the Dundalk School Planning Area, as with other areas across the country, under review.