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School Accommodation Provision

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 January 2019

Tuesday, 22 January 2019

Questions (75)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

75. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which the school building programme is proceeding in line with expectations nationally and throughout County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2733/19]

View answer

Written answers

The Deputy will be aware that my Department's Capital Programme continues to address the challenges posed by the significant bulge in pupil enrolments going through our schools. This has seen a significant expansion in the rate of provision of new school places.

The 2019 Primary and Post Primary Infrastructure allocation amounting to €672m will be expended primarily on the delivery of large scale projects and on the Additional Accommodation Scheme. Typically, expenditure levels of between 70% and 80% of the capital allocation available to schools annually is in respect of large scale projects and the Additional Accommodation Scheme. The balance available in 2019 will be expended on site acquisitions, the Summer Works Scheme, the Emergency Works Scheme, furniture and equipment provision and other smaller programmes.

The Capital Programme details the school projects that are being progressed through the architectural planning process, including schools at primary and post primary level in County Kildare. The Capital Programme also provides for devolved funding for additional classrooms, if required, for schools where an immediate enrolment need has been identified or where an additional teacher has been appointed. Details of schools listed on this programme can be found on my Department's website www.education.ie and this information is updated regularly.

The Deputy will also be aware of my announcement in April 2018 regarding the establishment of 42 new schools, including new primary schools in Maynooth, Leixlip and Naas and a new post primary school in Enfield to meet demand in the Kilcock school planning area, over the next four years (2019 to 2022). This announcement followed nationwide demographic exercises carried out by the Department into the future need for primary and post-primary schools across the country and the 4-year horizon will enable increased lead-in times for planning and delivery of the necessary infrastructure.

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