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

186. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on a building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43723/24]

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

The school referred to by the Deputy was approved to enter the Department’s pipeline of school buildings for a project to provide 2 Mainstream classroom, 1 Technology room and a Preparation Area, 1 Science Laboratory and Preparation area, 1 Art room and Project Store and a 2 Classroom Special Education Needs Base under the Additional School Accommodation Scheme.

A Stage 1 Design Report for the project was received by my department in August 2024 and is being reviewed from both a technical and cost perspective in accordance with the requirements of the public Infrastructure Guidelines. All projects, including this one, undergo the necessary due diligence outlined in the public Infrastructure Guidelines. Once this review has been completed the Department will contact the school authorities with the outcome for the progression of this much needed project.

Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

187. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills in terms of the ongoing delays with the promised new buildings at schools (details supplied), when she hopes that the construction of the new schools will commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43748/24]

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

The joint major building project for the schools referred to by the Deputy is currently at the initial stage of Architectural Planning, Stage 1 – Preliminary Design, where the Design Team assess the site and current school buildings and prepare their initial sketch schemes. A preferred design option, including the scope and extent of works to be carried out, will be established during this early stage.

Following the Stage 1 Stakeholders meeting, the Stage 1 Addendum report was received from the Design Team, and is currently under review.

Upon completion of the Departments due diligence review, the school authorities and its design team will be advised of the further progression of the project.

Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

188. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her Department’s plans with lands owned by the State that are adjacent to a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43749/24]

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

The Department of Education is in discussions with a developer on a potential disposal of the lands to the rear of the school referred to by the Deputy for the development of a public park and housing. These discussions to date have allowed for lands to be retained for the benefit of the aforementioned school.

The sustainable development plan of a settlement area and the planned use of the available development land is set out in County and Local Area Development Plans.

The land to the South of the school is zoned to provide for new residential communities in the South Dublin County Development Plan 2022-2028. There is also a Specific Local Objective (SLO) on these lands to identify and set aside land for a Public Park.

The future demand for school places in an area is directly linked to the number of existing and planned residential units. This department works closely with Local Authorities to ensure sufficient lands are zoned for educational use to meet the projected demand. To that end, a specific objective to provide school facilities has been provided on lands within the Newcastle development area in the South Dublin County Development Plan 2022-2028. These lands are adjacent to a large public park and public play facilities.

Any agreement to transfer lands for the development of housing and public park will include providing access to these specific lands for the development of the required school facilities.

The current negotiations include the transfer of land in the Newcastle area to the department for educational use. The purpose of these negotiations is to facilitate the development of Newcastle in a sustainable manner in keeping with the existing County & Local Development Plans.

Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

189. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the total capital funding provided for new school buildings and the refurbishment of existing school buildings in each school year since 2015/16, in tabular form; the number of projects completed in each year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43750/24]

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

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

• climate action objectives including deep energy retrofit.

The table below details capital expenditure across the Department from 2015 to date in 2024.