Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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141. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the timeline on the revised stage 1 submission for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55542/25]

Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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142. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the timeline on arranging a stage 1 stakeholders meeting for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55543/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 141 and 142 together.

The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy will be delivered under my Department's ADAPT Programme. The ADAPT Programme uses a professional external Project Manager to co-ordinate and drive the Design Team to achieve the best possible timeframe for the project through the stages of Architectural Planning to Tender and Construction.

The Brief for this project is the development of a 32 Classroom Primary School with 4 classrooms for pupils with Special Educational Needs including Pyrite Remediation, the Refurbishment of Existing Buildings and the construction of a New Build Extension and all associated site works, including associated play areas.

The major building project is currently at an early stage of architectural planning - Stage 1 - Preliminary Design, where the design team assess the site and current buildings, and prepare their initial sketch schemes. A preferred design option, including the scope and extent of works to be carried out will be established during this early stage, to be then further detailed and developed and fully cost-planned, before seeking statutory approvals, including planning permission.

Interim Stage 1 architectural workshops were held between the Design Team and the Department in Q4 2023, and the Design Team submitted their Stage 1 report to the Department in late Q4 2023.

Upon review of the report, a further detailed architectural workshop was held between the School Authorities, the Project Manager, Design Team and the Department in February 2024.

Following that meeting, the Design Team were requested to consider the Departments comments in relation to the site and design options presented.

Department Officials and Design Team members have met on site at St Patricks NS in attempts to develop appropriate design solutions that will best meet the needs of the school, and being cognisant of the 3rd party occupiers at the same site.

The Design Team are to prepare a revised Stage 1 submission, which upon receipt, will be reviewed, and a Stage 1 Stakeholders meeting will then be arranged.

Until the project design is at a stage where statutory approvals, planning permission, etc are secured by the Design Team, it will not be possible to provide an estimated onsite date.

In July the Government announced a capital allocation of €7.55 billion for the Department of Education and Youth for the period 2026-2030 under the National Development Plan. As part of this NDP allocation the 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 projects 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.

The 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.

Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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143. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason hand-dryers have not been installed at a new school (details supplied) given the long-term cost savings and environmental benefits of their installation, providing a directive to use paper towels in their place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55631/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The large scale capital project at the school referred to by the Deputy is at Architectural Planning Stage 4 – Construction.

The project brief for the Major Project at Holy Family Community School includes the Demolition of the existing school and the phased construction of a three storey 1,000 pupil Community School with Special Education Needs Unit and PE Hall.

The Departments School Design Guide - SDG 02-06 Sanitary Facilities states that the provision for hand drying facilities shall be paper towel or cotton/linen towels. Electric hand dryers are not permitted. The sanitary facilities should have adequate space for disposable hand towel dispensers and a refuse bin for the disposal of paper towels.

The Department of Education and Youth have an ongoing policy of updating and improving its suite of Technical Guidance Documents / School Design Guides (TGDs / SDGs) for schools with a view to offering better guidance to school authorities and Design Teams.

The Department has undertaken extensive review exercises of recently built schools. Lessons learnt incorporating feedback from schools and international best practice has resulted in the formation of our guidelines.

Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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144. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the new school building project (details supplied); the actions she will take to progress this project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55637/25]

Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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145. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to significant details in progressing a new school building (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55638/25]

Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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146. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the basis for the stalling of works in relation to a new school building for (details supplied); if she is conscious of the significant financial outlay made by her Department to the appointed design team; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55639/25]

Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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147. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the total level of expenditure to date spent by her Department on the new school building (details supplied); if she is conscious of the need to ensure value for money in the progression of this project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55640/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 144, 145, 146 and 147 together.

The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently at Stage 2(a) of Architectural Planning – Developed Design, where the preferred design option is developed to a stage where the project can be fully cost planned, and prepared to lodge for statutory approvals.

This major project is being delivered under my Departments ADAPT Programme.

The ADAPT Programme uses a professional external Project Manager to co-ordinate and drive the Design Team to achieve the best possible timeframe for the project through the stages of Architectural Planning to Tender and Construction.

The brief for this project is the development of a new school building on the existing site for 350 pupils plus accommodation for children with special educational needs and all associated siteworks.

On receipt and review of the Stage 2(a) Submission by my Department, the Stage 2(a) Stakeholders meeting will be arranged between the School Authorities, Design Team, Project Manager, and the Department.

Following that meeting, my Department will advise all Stakeholders regarding the further progression of the project.

Until all statutory applications have been secured, it will not be possible to provide an estimated timeline.

In July the Government announced a capital allocation of €7.55 billion for the Department of Education and Youth for the period 2026-2030 under the National Development Plan. As part of this 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 projects 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 expenditure on this major project is deemed commercially sensitive as it includes expenditure on another school.