Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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337. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason no response has issued from her office regarding a previous question (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36816/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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This response has issued to the Deputy on the 18th September 2024.

Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
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338. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to address the urgent need for the building project at a school (details supplied); the reasons for the delay in progressing past stage 2A, apply for planning permission, and move to the tender and construction stages; the reason the interim modular accommodation granted in September 2022 was subsequently reduced, resulting in inadequate facilities for the current and projected student population; if she will include a timeline for the approval of progressing past stage 2A, the envisaged timeframe for the tender stage, and the timeframe for construction to ensure the school can meet the needs of its students and families; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36841/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The school referred to by the Deputy was approved to enter the departments pipeline of school buildings under the 2021 Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme for a project to provide 3 General Classrooms, 1 Graphics room, 2 Science labs with 1 Prep area, 1 Home Economics room and a 2 Classroom SEN base. The project has been devolved for delivery to the school authority.

In 2022 further funding under the ASA scheme was approved for modular accommodation consisting of 1 Special education classroom and 3 general classrooms to cater for the schools needs pending delivery of their traditional build.

In 2023, in agreement with the school, the brief for modular accommodation was reduced to 1 Special education classroom and 1 general classroom as the school was able to accommodate general classrooms and a special education classroom within their current building on an interim basis. The revised brief for modular accommodation would provide the school with a classroom to cater for their second Special education class opening in September 2023 and an additional general classroom.

Under the ASA project the Stage 2a Report was received by my department in August 2024 and is currently being reviewed from both a technical and cost perspective in accordance with the requirements of the Public Spending Code.

At this early stage, it is not possible to predict when a significant school building project of this nature will go to construction, nor when it will be completed, as progress depends upon many contingent factors that can arise.

Once this review has been completed the department will contact the school authorities with the outcome for the progression of this much needed project.