Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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377. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of new school buildings delivered from 2020 to date in 2024 in Dún Laoghaire; the number of new schools established from 2020 to date in 2024; the number of schools awaiting a new school building each year from 2020 to 2024 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43084/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Since 2020, my department has invested 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.

The department announced earlier this 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 schools’ 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; and

climate action objectives including deep energy retrofit.

There was one new school delivered in Dun Laoghaire between 2020 and to date in 2024. Please see details below:

Cherrywood ETNS (RN20535E), Project Brief: new 24 classroom primary school + 2 class SEN, completed in 2023.

There were two new primary schools established since 2020 and to date in 2024 in Dún Laoghaire. Please see details below:

Cherrywood ETNS (RN20535E) established in 2020; and

Sallynoggin Killiney ETNS (RN20543D) established in 2022.

There was one new post-primary school established as a regional solution to serve the Booterstown_Blackrock and Dún Laoghaire school planning areas but is not located within the Dún Laoghaire constituency boundary. Please see details below:

Blackrock ETSS (RN68387K) established in 2021.

There are 10 schools in Dun Laoghaire with projects at various stages of planning and delivery. Please see details below:

St. Michael's House Special School Rathgar (RN18671A)

Ballyowen Meadows Special School (RN19355S)

Dún Laoghaire ETNS (RN20503O)

Gaelscoil Laighean (RN20518E)

Cherrywood Post Primary School (announced in 2018, timing of establishment is under review)

Bray Woodbrook Shanganagh Primary School (RN20536G)

Sallynoggin ETNS (20543D)

Sallynoggin Killiney DLR Cherrywood Primary School (RN20544F)

Holy Child Community School (RN91330K)

St. Brigid's Boys National School (RN16352U)

Further information on all current school building projects is available on the Department webpage at:

www.gov.ie/en/organisation/department-of-education/