Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 November 2021
85. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the extent to which school building projects at primary and second-level throughout the country, including County Kildare, are proceeding in line with expectations; if the various projects remain on schedule; if those pending are likely to be accommodated at an early date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57222/21]
View answerUnder 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.
A further 13 projects are currently on site, eight at primary level and five at post primary. 35 projects are at various stages of planning and design.
The current status of these projects being delivered is listed on a county by county basis on www.gov.ie and is updated on a monthly basis to reflect their progress through the various stages.
