Written answers

Wednesday, 22 January 2025

Department of Education and Skills

Schools Building Projects

Photo of William AirdWilliam Aird (Laois, Fine Gael)
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643. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update on the provision of two classrooms at a school (details supplied). [1804/25]

Photo of Norma FoleyNorma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I can confirm to the Deputy that the Department has received an application from the school in question for the provision of 2x temporary classrooms. The school currently has a project for 4x Special education classrooms approved by the Department which is currently at design stage of the process.

Since 2020, my department has invested over €5.7 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 1,150 school building projects and with construction currently underway at approximately 300 other projects, which includes new school buildings some of which are being delivered in phases. These 300 projects currently at construction involve a total State investment of over €1.3bn.

The Department previously announced 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 NCSE has responsibility for co-ordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs nationwide. Over the last two years, the department and the NCSE have worked closely on a more streamlined and joined up planning process which has ensured a targeted approach to meet demand for special education placements ahead of each new school year. The Department continues to work with the NCSE in relation to the short-term requirements for special class and special school places and the more strategic and longer-term requirements. The Department is aware that the NCSE is currently engaging with the patron of the school in question in this regard.

I want to assure you that the department will continue to support the NCSE and schools through the provision of the necessary funding and capital investment to ensure all children are successful in accessing an education appropriate to their needs.

Photo of John ConnollyJohn Connolly (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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644. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the development of a new school in Renmore (details supplied). [1809/25]

Photo of Norma FoleyNorma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The joint major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an early stage of Architectural Planning – Stage 1 – Preliminary Design , including assessment of site and location suitability and initial sketch schemes. This project is being delivered as part of the Departments ADAPT Programme.

The ADAPT Programme uses a professional external Project Manager to co-ordinate and drive the Design Team to achieve the best possible timeframe for the project through the stages of Architectural Planning to Tender and Construction.

The project brief is for the delivery of 2 new replacement 24 classroom primary schools and classrooms for pupils with special educational needs, at the existing site in Renmore, the demolition of the existing buildings, and removal of the current temporary accommodation.

This urban site is very restricted, and the process to identify and carry out a due diligence review on sites identified as a potential decant location is currently underway. A viable decant location needs to be identified as part of the Stage 1 submission, in order to demonstrate to the Department that a preferred agreed design option for the replacement school buildings can be constructed, and within the Departments cost control guidelines.

On completion of the current due diligence review, the Department will be in contact with both School Authorities and the Design Team.

Photo of John ConnollyJohn Connolly (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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645. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the development of new schools in Athenry (details supplied). [1812/25]

Photo of Norma FoleyNorma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The project referred to by the Deputy is a campus project and has been devolved for delivery to Galway and Roscommon Educational and Training board (GRETB).

I am pleased to advise that the project is currently at Stage 2b of the architectural process. The Stage 2b report has been received and is being reviewed in my department. As for all capital projects of this nature it is subject to the due diligence required under the Public Infrastructure Guidelines. Once approval of this report is sanctioned, the project will progress to tender stage and onwards to construction in due course.

It is not possible to provide a timeline for completion of the project at this juncture however GRETB will keep the schools informed of all progress in regard to this major project.

Photo of Edward TimminsEdward Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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646. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when construction of the new secondary school in Blessington, County Wicklow will commence. [1837/25]

Photo of Norma FoleyNorma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved for delivery to Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB).

In Quarter 2 2023, the Department approved a submission from the school authority to increase the original brief in the context of a significant increase in projected new enrolments in the area. This allowed for a project to cater for a 1,000 pupil school plus 6 special education needs classes.

A planning application was submitted to Wicklow County Council in Q4 2023 and the full grant of planning permission was received in Q2 2024. The design team are progressing the detail design drawings in preparation for the stage 2b submission. When Stage 2b has been finalised, received, reviewed and approved, the next stage is tendering for a contractor and then onwards to construction in due course.

While at this early stage, it is not possible to provide a timeline for the completion of the project. KWETB will continue to engage directly with the school authorities to keep them informed of progress. 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.

Photo of Edward TimminsEdward Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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647. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when she will sanction the next stage of the building project in a school (details supplied). [1838/25]

Photo of Norma FoleyNorma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The project referred to by the Deputy has been devolved to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) for delivery as part of a programme of school building projects.

The project is currently at Stage 2b, with a full grant of planning permission received for the school. The NDFA’s Design Team is working to conclude the pre-tender stage in conjunction with the Department. When Stage 2b has been finalised and approved, the next stage is tendering for a contractor and then onwards to construction in due course.

While at this early stage, it is not possible to provide a timeline for the completion of the project. The NDFA will continue to engage directly with the school authorities to keep them informed of progress.

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.

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