Noel McCarthy (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

21. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update on a request for additional accommodation for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8429/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department has approved a major building project for the school to which the Deputy refers. This will provide a new extension and refurbishment to existing buildings to cater for 800 students plus classrooms for students with special education needs. This project is at Stage 2(b) with planning permission recently received which enables the detailed design and pre-tender documentation to be completed. Following a considerable Request for Further Information from the Local Authority, the design team secured the grant of planning permission in February 2024 and is currently working on completion of its Stage 2b report for submission to my Department.

Pending the completion of this school building project, the school has identified interim accommodation pressures and my Department recently received an application for additional accommodation from the school. I am pleased to advise that the Department has approved in principle two interim mainstream classrooms to be provided as soon as possible. The Department has devolved the delivery of this accommodation to the school authority. My Department’s professional and technical officials will advise the school authorities on the optimum method of progressing both projects in line with the Department’s technical guidance and the Public Infrastructure Guidelines.

The projects at the school in question form part of significant overall capital investment by my Department with over €5.7 billion invested in our schools throughout the country since 2020, including almost €671 million invested in schools in Cork.

I want to assure the Deputy that my Department will continue to work to advance the building projects at the school in question as part of the solution to provide required additional capacity in the town and ensure sufficient school places to meet local needs.