Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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330. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she can confirm receipt of a Stage 1 report in respect of a major extension ASA project at a school in County Cork (details supplied); the interim measures contemplated by her to deal with the absence of any SEN provision in the school catchment area for post primary students whilst this project is being progressed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41637/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The school to which the Deputy refers was approved to enter the department’s pipeline of projects under the Additional School Accommodation Scheme. The project will provide 7 General Classrooms, 5 SET rooms, 2 Art rooms/2 Project stores, 1 Music room, 1 Multimedia room, 1 Textiles room and 2 classroom Special Education Needs (SEN) base. In addition, approval has been granted for two general classrooms under the department's Modular Framework.

The project was devolved for delivery to Cork Educational and Training Board and my department received the initial architectural design report (stage 1) in Q3 2024, which is currently being reviewed from both a technical and cost perspective in accordance with the requirements of the public Infrastructure Guidelines. The Deputy will appreciate that all projects, including this one, undergo the necessary due diligence outlined in the public Infrastructure Guidelines. Furthermore, managing timing, scope, and cost is crucial to staying within budgetary limits for the overall programme. Once this review is complete, my department will be in touch with the delivery body on how best to progress this important project.

Since 2020, my department has invested in over €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 37 new school buildings. These 350 projects currently at construction involve a total State investment of over €1.5bn. 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. My department has recently released details of new measures to support the forward planning for special education provision. This includes new streamlined arrangements to support the repurposing of existing accommodation to facilitate opening new special classes for September 2025 and is available in circular 0080/2024 at gov.ie.