Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 May 2021
325. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education if the number of places anticipated in the 2021 school building programme remains adequate to meet requirements in respect of all children at primary and second-level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25450/21]
View answer331. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the extent to which plans are in place or being made to provide for the extra school places required in 2021 and subsequently given the anticipated intake from both primary and second-level schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25456/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 325 and 331 together.
I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is aware of increasing pressures and demand for additional school places for 2021 in a number of school planning areas.
Where capacity issues arise it may not be as a result of lack of accommodation but may be driven by the following factors:
- Duplication of applications – pupils have applied for a place to a number of schools in the area
- School of choice – pupils can’t get a place in their preferred school while there are places in other schools in the town/area
- Some towns/areas have single sex schools and while places are available in the school there are not available to all pupils
- External draw – pupils coming from outside the local area
Until these issues are discussed with the relevant school authorities the true extent of any capacity issue will only become known.
Similar to the process adopted in advance of the current academic year, my Department is engaging with patron bodies, to identify particular capacity requirements for the forthcoming year(s) which may necessitate action including, where required, the provision of modular accommodation solutions.
In relation to the Building Programme, Project Ireland 2040 provides a funding envelope of €8.8 billion for the schools sector over the period 2018-2027.
My Department has a large pipeline of projects for delivery under the school building programme to cater for current and future educational demands. The pipeline of projects is kept under continual review to ensure alignment with Project Ireland 2040 objectives and the funding provided under the National Development Plan during the period 2018 to 2027 for the schools sector is key enabler for their successful delivery. The main elements of this pipeline currently involve over 377 projects on the Department’s Large Scale Capital Programme and circa. 800 projects for delivery under the Department’s Additional Accommodation Scheme. Good progress continues to be made with the rollout of projects, and the current status of projects being delivered is listed on a county by county basis on the Department’s website at www.education.ie and updated on a monthly basis to reflect their progress through the various stages of capital appraisal, site acquisition, design, tender and construction.
