Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

656.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of new-build special schools planned to be built in the Dublin mid-west area; their current stages of development; and if she will make a statement on the matter.[35466/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

There is currently one special school in architectural planning in Dublin mid-west area which is Scoil Mochua Clondalkin Dublin 22. This school has a project to provide a new 12-classroom building and is at stage 2a of architectural planning process. This stage includes includes developing the design and accurately cost planning the options agreed with the Client to a stage where the project is fully cost planned and can be prepared to lodge for statutory approvals.

There has also been a new 28-classroom building recently completed for Stewart's Hospital Special School, Palmerstown, Dublin 20.

My Department will continue to engage with National Council for Special Education (NCSE) to plan for special school capacity requirements across the country, including in the Dublin Mid-West area

Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

657.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of new-build schools planned to be built in the Dublin mid-west area; the number of those that have an ASD class planned; the number of ASD places there will be; their current stages of development; and if she will make a statement on the matter.[35467/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As requested by the Deputy, the following link shows the number of schools with major building projects planned to be built in Dublin mid-west including details of the number of Special Education Needs (SEN) classes currently included as part of the project. Each project's current stage in the architectural planning process is also included in the table.

Given the growing requirements for special class provision, my Department is examining opportunities to increase the special class accommodation that is included as part of planned projects, where appropriate.

My Department will also continue to monitor the demographics for the Dublin Mid-west area regarding future educational requirements and engage with National Council for Special Education (NCSE) to plan for special school and special class capacity requirements across the country, including in the Dublin Mid-West area.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

658.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a date is to be set for a stage 2A meeting between primary schools on the Navan road, D7 (details supplied), to progress their proposed new school buildings on their shared campus; and if she will make a statement on the matter.[35484/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The current position in respect of the joint major building project referred to by the Deputy is as follows;

The updated Stage 2(a) submission was received in the Department on the 3^rdJuly 2024.

The Department's Professional and Technical Team will review the submission as quickly as possible having regard also to the many other projects they have to manage for progression through the Department's pipeline. Once the P&T team are satisfied that the report is satisfactory, a date for the end of Stage 2a Stakeholders meeting will be arranged. Stage 2a – Developed Design - is a crucial element of the architectural planning process as it is at this stage that the design is developed to a stage where it can be fully cost planned and prepared to lodge for statutory approvals.

The Department are committed to providing guidance and assistance to the Design Team and the 3 schools in progressing this project through architectural planning, to a point where it can apply for all statutory approvals, including planning permission.

Department officials will keep the school authorities updated on progress and next steps, including the arrangements for the Stage 2(a) stakeholders meeting.

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

659.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when refurbishment works at a school (details supplied) will move to construction phase of works.[35489/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved for delivery to Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board (LCETB).

The brief includes the provision of a new 32-classroom primary school and increased 5 SEN base.

The project was recently approved by my Department to proceed to tender stage. When this stage is concluded, the project will progress to construction in due course. The Department will continue to work closely with LCETB and its Design Team in this regard.

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.

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

660.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when refurbishment works at a school (details supplied) will be completed; and the estimated cost for these works.[35490/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The permanent school building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is being delivered under my Department’s Design and Build Programme as a campus project. The project will deliver a new 1,000 pupil post-primary school and accommodation, including classrooms, for children with special educational needs and a new 16 classroom primary school and accommodation, including classrooms, for children with special educational needs.

The Letter of Acceptance (LOA) issued to the successful contractor on 19^thJuly 2024, allowing the contractor to mobilise on site.

Interim Accommodation works to provide two additional classrooms for the school referred to by the Deputy are complete and were handed over to the school on 5th September. Further works to provide a toilet block and internal fitout works to existing accommodation are almost complete and are expected to be ready for handover to the school in the coming week, subject to receiving BCAR.

The estimated cost of the provision of the additional interim accommodation and fitout works is some €650,000.

My Department will continue to address the interim accommodation requirements for the school and will continue to keep the patron body and the school community updated as the project progresses.

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

661.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when refurbishment works at a school (details supplied) will be completed; and the estimated cost for these works.[35491/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The major project referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of Architectural planning Stage 4 – Construction.

It is estimated that the refurbishment works will be completed in early quarter 4, 2024 and as this is an integral part of the overall tender and the Contract awarded, it is not appropriate at this stage to provide the cost information requested by the Deputy.

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

662.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the funding provided for capital projects for schools in County Wexford from 2021 to date in 2024, in tabular form.[35492/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Since 2020, the department has invested in the region of €5 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 950 school building projects and with construction currently underway at approximately 350 other projects, which includes 36 new school buildings. These 350 projects currently at construction involve a total State investment of over €1.5bn.

The Department 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 key drivers of capital investment in the school sector include:

• demographic growth, particularly at post primary level
• increased demand for special educational needs provision
• alignment of school place provision with new housing development
• climate action objectives including deep energy retrofit.

Between 2021 to date, 40 school building projects have been completed in Co. Wexford.

Currently there are 17 school building projects under construction in Co. Wexford.

There are also 45 school building projects (Large Scale/ASA/Modular) in Co. Wexford moving through the various stages of design, of which 5 are new school projects.

These projects are being delivered to ambitious timeframes, and the position on individual projects evolves all the time as they advance through various stages. The status of all projects is set out at (www.gov.ie). This is updated on a regular basis to reflect project progress through the various stages of capital appraisal, site acquisition, design, tender and construction.

The table below provides details of yearly investment in the School Building Programme in Co. Wexford from 2021 to date.

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

663.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when refurbishment works at a school (details supplied) will be completed; and the estimated cost for these works.[35493/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The permanent school building project for the school is being delivered under my Department’s Design and Build Programme as a campus project and will deliver a new 1,000 pupil post-primary school and accommodation, including classrooms, for children with special educational needs and a new 16 classroom primary school and accommodation, including classrooms, for children with special educational needs.

The Letter of Acceptance (LOA) issued to the successful contractor on 19^thJuly 2024, allowing the contractor to mobilise on site.

Works to provide an additional interim classroom for the school referred to by the Deputy are almost complete. It is expected that the new classroom will be ready for handover to the school in the coming week, subject to receiving BCAR.

The estimated cost of the additional classroom is some €300,000.

My Department will continue to address the interim accommodation requirements for the school and will continue to keep the patron body and the school updated as the campus building project progresses.