Brian Brennan (Wicklow-Wexford, Fine Gael)
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419. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a new school building project (details supplied); the timeline for progress; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2429/25]

Brian Brennan (Wicklow-Wexford, Fine Gael)
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422. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills whether she will consider advance works on sports facilities for a school building project (details supplied) that is not progressing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2434/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 419 and 422 together.

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.

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 permanent school building project referred to by the Deputy will provide a new 750 pupil post primary school and accommodation, including 4 classrooms, for children with special educational needs.

It is intended that the project will be delivered under my Department's ADAPT Programme which uses a professional external Project Manager to co-ordinate and drive the Integrated Project Team to achieve the best possible timeframe for the project through the stages of Architectural Planning, to Tender and Construction.

The ADAPT 4 Programme will be led by Integrated Project Teams (IPT’s), consisting of highly skilled and experienced design professionals, architects, engineers, project managers, quantity surveyors and various other consultants to deliver the projects. AECOM as the Programme Manager are overseeing the procurement and appointment of the IPT’s. A 2-stage procurement process for the IPT appointment is ongoing with Stage 1 complete and Stage 2 underway.

It is not possible to provide a timeframe for the progression of the project to tender and construction stages until such time as the necessary statutory approvals have been secured. This project is also expected to deliver sports facilities, including a PE hall and external hard core play areas, as part of the permanent project.

My Department will keep the school and their patron body informed of the progression of this shared educational campus and will continue to liaise in relation to interim accommodation pending delivery of the permanent accommodation for the school.