School Accommodation

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 February 2022

Tuesday, 1 February 2022

Questions (79)

Cathal Crowe

Question:

79. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on the provision of new classrooms and subject rooms at a school (detail supplied) in County Clare. [4626/22]

Written answers

Minister for Education

I can confirm to the Deputy that the school to which he refers has been approved for a project under my Department's Additional Accommodation Scheme as part of Project Ireland 2040. This project will provide for 2 Mainstream Classrooms, 1 Metalwork Room and 1 Woodwork Room and has been devolved for delivery to Limerick and Clare ETB (LCETB).   

Project Ireland 2040 provides a total of approximately €4.4 billion of capital investment over the period 2021-2025. The project to which the Deputy refers is one of approximately 1,200 school building projects under the Large Scale and Additional Accommodation Scheme that 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 up to 2025. It is one of a continuous stream of projects that are at or near the tendering stage and is one of an anticipated 150 to 200 school building projects expected to be completed annually during the 2022 to 2025 period.  

In respect of Scariff Community College, the project was approved in February 2017 and proceeded through the various stages of the architectural planning process thereafter. A Stage 1/2A report was received in May 2018 in that respect and approval was given to proceed to the planning stage in August 2018. The project successfully progressed through the statutory planning process. My Department subsequently approved the progression of this project to tender stage in July 2021. LCETB has been progressing the project in that regard and the Department awaits submission of the tender report, which is expected in the coming weeks.

I can assure the Deputy that LCETB and my Department are progressing this important project as quickly as possible.