Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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92. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the status of the extension to a school (details supplied); the timeline for the delivery of the extension; when the project is expected to be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39982/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the Additional School Accommodation building project referred to, has been devolved for delivery to the Galway Roscommon Education Training Board (GRETB). A design team has been appointed to progress the project through the necessary architectural stages of design, statutory approvals, procurement and construction.

The project brief approved will provide for 4 mainstream classrooms and a 4 classroom Special Educational Needs (SEN) base.

In April 2025, this project received department approval to progress to Stage 2a (detailed design) of the architectural planning design process. This stage will include development of the design, and an accurate cost plan that best meets the design as agreed.

It is now a matter for GRETB and the school authority to develop the design for this project and submit the Stage 2a report to the department for review in due course. My department will continue to engage directly with GRETB in relation to this project.

Since 2020, my department has invested over €217 million on the building programme for schools in County Galway. In Galway, a total of 84 projects were completed during this period, and there are currently 23 projects in construction. Additionally, 3 modular projects are at an advanced stage of delivery, and 24 projects are at various stages of detailed design. Since 2020, my department has invested over €6 billion in our schools throughout the country under the National Development Plan, involving the completion of over 1,400 school building projects.