Under Project Ireland 2040, the education sector will receive a total of approximately €4.4 billion capital investment over the period 2021-2025. This significant investment allows us to move forward with certainty on our ambitious plans and deliver high quality building projects, with a real focus on sustainability, for school communities across Ireland.
This investment will build on the good progress being made on adding capacity to cater for demographic changes and provision for children with special educational needs. This investment will also facilitate an increased focus on the modernisation of existing school stock and help transition the school system for an era of net zero carbon by 2050.
Approximately 1,200 school building projects are currently in progress across the various stages of planning, design, tender and construction – most of which are expected to be either under construction or completed in the period 2021 to 2025.
There are currently in excess of 250 school building projects at construction (on site) with a continuous stream of other projects at or near the tendering stage. These are being progressed as quickly as possible.
During the period 2018 to 2020 526 school building projects were completed under the Large Scale Capital Programme (LSCP) and the Additional School Accommodation Scheme (ASA). These projects delivered in excess of 48,000 school places. 16 of these projects delivered were in County Kildare; 13 of those were primary schools including one special school and 3 were post-primary school building projects.
In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System, using data from a range of sources, including Child Benefit and school enrolment data, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise and where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary level.
The most recent analysis undertaken by my Department projects that over 60% of the 314 school planning areas at primary level have stable or decreasing projected enrolments for the period to 2024, whereas some 90% of the school planning areas at post-primary level are anticipated to have increased enrolments for the period to 2027.
The level of demand volume across school planning areas with an increasing net requirement ranges from small to medium increases that are likely to be accommodated by existing schools through to significant projected growth that may require additional provision.
Where data indicates that additional provision is required at primary or post primary level, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may be provided through either one, or a combination of, the following:
- Utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools,
- Extending the capacity of a school or schools,
- Provision of a new school or schools.
My Department's most recent projections do not indicate significant increases in school place requirements at primary level in the Prosperous_Clane school planning area.
The projections at post-primary level indicate the projected peak year is 2025 with projected enrolment numbers of 1731, decreasing thereafter.
Clane is located in the Prosperous_Clane school planning area. As the Deputy is aware, there are currently 3 projects at various stages of planning and design in Clane.
Current Large Scale & Additional Scheme Accommodation Projects in Clane :
|
Roll No.
|
School Name
|
School Type
|
Project Type
|
Current Stage
|
|
19796C
|
St Patricks Boys NS
|
Primary
|
New School
|
Stage 4
|
|
13902O
|
Hewetsons NS
|
Primary
|
Extension & Refurbishment
|
Stage 1
|
|
91372D
|
Scoil Mhuire Community School
|
Post Primary
|
Extension
|
Stage 1
|
St Patrick’s BNS, Roll Number 19796C has a project for a new 24 classroom school. The commencement notice has issued and construction is to commence on site early next week.
Hewetsons NS, Roll Number 13902O has a project brief for a stand-alone extension of 1,081m2 plus 1 classroom for special education and appropriate refurbishment. This project is devolved to the School for delivery and they are currently in the process of appointing a Design team.
Scoil Mhuire Community School, Roll Number 91372D has an extension project that was approved in April 2020. The project is currently at Stage 1 Design.
