Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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89. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the application for capital investment for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3724/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I can confirm to the Deputy, that my Department has approved capital funding, under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme, for the school in question for a traditional building project consisting of 3 Mainstream general classrooms, 1 Music room,1 Science lab & prep area, 1 Graphics room,1 Home economics room, 1 Construction room & prep area, 1 Special education classroom & 1 Universal access toilet. This project has been devolved to the school authorities for delivery and is currently at stage 2b - Detailed design.

The purpose of the ASA scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream and special education classroom accommodation is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year and where the need cannot be met by the school’s existing accommodation or at other schools in the area.

I am pleased to confirm that 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.

In County Sligo alone, from 2020 to the end of December 2024, the department has invested €48.15m in school infrastructure and completed 18 school building projects. As at end of December 2024 a further 3 projects were in construction in Co Sligo and 2 at tender stage.

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.

Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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90. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the request for a new school for Carrick-on-Shannon (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3725/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The department employs a detailed planning process to determine school provision needs. This process involves dividing the country into 314 school planning areas and utilizing a Geographical Information System (GIS). The GIS uses a variety of data sources, including Child Benefit records and school enrolment statistics, to pinpoint areas where there is a growing demand for school places. This analysis helps identify where additional school accommodations are necessary at both primary and post-primary levels.

In addition to this data, the department’s forecasts are also informed by current and planned residential developments, as well as population and housing targets set out in Project Ireland 2040. This comprehensive approach ensures that the department can effectively plan for future school place requirements across the country.

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.

In April 2024, the Department of Education 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 of Education’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

Officials in my department have met with the school patron and school authority for the school referred to by the deputy to discuss how the immediate accommodation needs for the school might be addressed.

I can confirm to the deputy that the department is in receipt of an application under the Additional School Accommodation scheme (ASA) from the school in question. The Department recently issued correspondence to the school authority with an offer of accommodation to meet the schools’ immediate needs and are awaiting a response from the school in this regard.