Skip to main content
Normal View

Abbey Theatre

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 March 2019

Wednesday, 6 March 2019

Questions (63)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

63. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which he expects to meet the requirements and objectives as set out in the school building programme by county in 2019; if he remains satisfied that the objective as set out can be met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10898/19]

View answer

Written answers

My Department's Capital Programme continues to address the challenges nationally 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 Capital Programme details the school projects that are being progressed through the architectural planning process, including those schools in County Kildare. My Department regularly updates the current position on all projects on the Capital Programme and this information is available on my Department's website at www.education.ie

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. 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, 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.

Top
Share