Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

410. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a school building project (details supplied) for four classrooms and an SEN base is stalled at Stage 2B since January 2025 and awaiting approval to put the project out to tender. [51137/25]

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

The school referred to by the Deputy was approved funding under the Additional School Accommodation scheme to provide four mainstream classrooms (2 prefab replacements), a two classroom special educational needs base and ancillary accommodation.

The Stage 2b (detailed design) report was received by the Department in August 2024. Following a thorough review by Department officials, further information was requested prior to authorising progression to Stage 3 (tender). A response from the school was received in April 2025.

The latest information is being reviewed from both a technical and cost perspective in accordance with the requirements of the Public Spending Code. All projects, including this one, are subjected to the required due diligence as specified in the Department's infrastructure guidelines. All projects, including this one, will undergo the necessary due diligence outlined in the public Infrastructure Guidelines.

Furthermore, as part of the National Development Plan (NDP) allocation my department will place a strong emphasis on provision for children with special educational needs, with a particular focus on meeting annual school place needs. In relation to project rollout for Large Scale and Additional School Accommodation scheme projects, the approach will be to continue to maximise the capacity of the existing school estate as much as possible in the first instance and provide necessary additional capacity through targeted and prioritised project rollout over the course of 2026 to 2030 period to meet the most urgent and prioritised needs.

My department is now preparing an NDP implementation plan which is due for publication later in the Autumn. This plan will optimise outputs from the NDP allocations, with a strong focus on maximising existing school capacity, progressing priority projects where local capacity across schools in the area is insufficient, and ensuring delivery that is affordable, offers value for money, and meets functional needs.

The NDP implementation plan will be considered as part of the ongoing review of this school building project. Once the NDP implementation plan is finalised my Department will be in a position to inform the school of the outcome regarding the progression of this project.