Written answers

Tuesday, 25 March 2025

Department of Education and Skills

Schools Building Projects

Photo of Rory HearneRory Hearne (Dublin North-West, Social Democrats)
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374. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 456 of 5 February 2025, for a status update on her Department’s efforts to secure the necessary statutory approvals for the development of the permanent buildings for a school (details supplied); if she will provide further updates relating to the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13879/25]

Photo of Helen McEnteeHelen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Since 2020, my department has invested over €5.8 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 1,300 school building projects. Between projects currently under construction and projects moving to construction in the coming months, investments by the Department of Education are adding over 600,000 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 Programme for Government recognises the importance of strong capital investment in the school building programme and supporting this with enhanced allocations through the NDP process.

The project for the school referred to by the Deputy will form part of a campus project to be delivered under my Department's ADAPT 4 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 IPTs, which is nearing completion.

Once the IPTs have been appointed, design work can commence as part of Stage 1 of the project. Applications for statutory approvals are made at Stage 2 (b) of Architectural Planning (Detailed Design).

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.

Photo of Brian BrennanBrian Brennan (Wicklow-Wexford, Fine Gael)
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375. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a contractor will be appointed for a school (details supplied); when works will commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13881/25]

Photo of Helen McEnteeHelen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The project to which the Deputy refers is part of a school campus project at Kilbride, Co. Wicklow. It has been devolved for delivery to Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB).

The brief for the project includes the provision of a new 16 classroom primary school with a 2 classroom SEN base.

The project was authorised by the Department to proceed to Stage 3 (tender stage) in November 2024 and KWETB confirmed in January 2025 that the project had gone to Tender. When this stage is concluded, the project will progress to construction in due course.

It is not possible at this time to give a date for completion of the project. However, KWETB will continue to engage directly with the school authority to keep it fully informed of all progress.

The Department is committed to ensuring appropriate accommodation is available for the pupils in Gaelscoil an Inbhir Mhóir and will in the wider context outlined, ensure that this project - as for all projects on our school building programme - is subject to the due diligence required under the public Infrastructure Guidelines.

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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