Denis Naughten
Question:253. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education the steps she is taking to deliver on her capital building programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45181/21]
View answerThursday, 23 September 2021
Questions (253)
Written answers
My Department has a strong and ambitious rollout of projects under the school building programme to support the operation of the school system particularly in terms of additional capacity requirements.
During the NDP period 2018-2020, there were 526 completed building projects under the Large Scale Capital Programme and the Additional School Accommodation Scheme. These projects delivered in excess of 48,000 school places, including permanent accommodation for 229 special classes and additional capacity for 67 classrooms in 14 special schools throughout the country.
The Department currently has a significant existing pipeline of projects to be delivered over the coming years to meet capacity needs managed under the Large-Scale Capital Programme (LSCP) and the Additional School Accommodation Scheme (ASA). This includes circa 1,200 school building projects across the various stages of planning, design, tender and construction. There are currently in excess of 250 projects currently at construction, most of which will be completed during Q4 2021 and 2022. and a further 200 school building projects at advanced stages of planning and design.
It is envisaged that 150 - 200 school building project will be completed annually under the NDP.
The current status of projects being delivered is listed on a county by county basis on the www.Gov.ie website and is updated on a monthly basis to reflect their progress through the various stages.
The main focus of resources over the last decade and for the coming period is on provision of additional capacity to cater for increasing demographics.
While at a national level, enrolment trends indicate that primary enrolments have passed their peak and that post primary enrolments will peak in the 2024/25 academic year, my Department is very much aware that there are variations to this trend at regional and local level. For that reason, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and utilises a Geographic Information System, using data from a range of sources, including Child Benefit, school enrolment data and information on residential development activity in order to anticipate school place demand and identify capacity requirement priorities which will necessitate action. This is important in the context of ensuring alignment with the Government’s Housing for All Plan.
While much progress has been made to date, the continued modernisation of school facilities will be a priority for my Department under the forthcoming revised NDP to 2030. This increased focus on the upgrade and refurbishment of the existing school stock will be further to the continued increase of school capacity to keep pace with demographic demand including provision for Special Education Needs.