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.
During the period 2018 to 2021 691 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 64000 school places. 19 of these projects delivered were in County Kildare; 16 of those were primary schools including one special school and 3 were post-primary school building projects.
It is anticipated that 150 to 200 school building projects will be completed annually during the 2022 to 2025 period.
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.
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 stages.
As reported in November 2021 there are currently 5 projects at various stages of planning and design in the Naas school planning area. These projects, listed below are being progressed through the various stages of assessment and delivery.
The length of time a project takes to deliver depends on a number of factors, including scale and complexity, and is subject to the time it takes to progress through the statutory approval process. There is also always a risk of unforeseen issues giving rise to slippage in the progress of a project through the design, statutory approvals or tendering process. Furthermore, Additional Accommodation projects may differ in the way they progress through the architectural planning process depending on their scope.
Current Large Scale & Additional Scheme Accommodation (ASA) Projects in Naas School Planning Area:
|
Roll No.
|
School Name
|
School Type
|
Project Type
|
Current Stage
|
|
19597T
|
An Linbh Iosa
|
Primary
|
Extension
|
Stage 1
|
|
15040T
|
Mercy Convent
|
Primary
|
New School
|
Stage 4
|
|
17254C
|
Scoil Chorbain
|
Primary
|
New School
|
Stage 2b
|
|
76194S
|
Naas Community College
|
Post Primary
|
New School
|
Stage 4
|
|
61730I
|
Colaiste Naomh Mhuire
|
Post Primary
|
Extension & Refurbishment
|
Stage 2a
|
An Linbh Iosa, Roll Number 19597T. This project is currently at Stage 1 Design Stage.
Mercy Convent Naas, Roll No: 15040T. This is a new 32 classroom school (replacement school with an additional 4 classrooms). Construction commenced on site in May 2017. The contract was terminated in March 2020. Weatherproofing works, under an enabling works contract are almost complete. An Invitation to Tender, to appoint a contractor to complete the major building project is expected to issue in February 2022 with a proposed completion date June 2023.
Scoil Chorbain, Roll Number 17254C. This project is to provide a new 16 classroom school with a 2 class SEN Base on the existing site. The project has recently been approved to Stage 2b – Detailed Design, which includes securing all statutory consents and the preparation of tender documents. The Design Team are currently finalising the applications for statutory consents to the Local Authority.
Naas Community College, Roll Number 76194S. As the Deputy is aware, the delivery of the project at Naas Community College has been devolved to Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board. The substantial completion date for this project is 18th February 2022 and the Design Team’s programme to achieve this is currently on track.
Colaiste Naomh Mhuire, Roll Number 61730I. The project has been devolved to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) for delivery as part of a programme of school building projects. This project is currently at Stage 2a of the architectural planning process. Once the Stage report submission is approved by my Department, the next step for the Design Team will be to obtain the statutory planning approvals.
While at this early stage it is not possible to provide a timeline for completion of the project, the NDFA will be engaging directly with the school authority to keep it informed of progress.
Naas Primary School, Roll Number 20542B. In 2021 the Department conducted an exercise on the necessity for the establishment of the proposed new primary school for Naas for 2022, taking into account a number of factors, including the pace of delivery of the expected additional residential development in the school planning area, associated enrolments and the capacity in existing schools in the area. The Department is satisfied that demand in Naas in 2022 can be accommodated by the existing and growing schools in this area. Based on this information the opening of this school has been deferred. No decision has been taken yet on the date of its establishment.
The Department will keep the pace of delivery of additional residential development in this school planning area, along with updated enrolment data and demographic data under review and this will inform the timing of school requirements.
SN Mhuire, Roll Number 18055B. My Department currently has on hand 1 ASA application from this school which was received in December 2021 and which is currently under assessment. The application is for the provision of 2 Special Education Needs class base and reconfiguration works for interim.
