Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 6 July 2023
228. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education for details, in tabular form, of all school building projects that are currently underway in County Clare at this time, including estimated completion dates. [33411/23]
View answerThrough Project Ireland 2040, we are investing €4.4 billion over the period 2021 to 2025, to add capacity and develop and upgrade school facilities across the country for the almost one million students and over 100,000 staff that learn and work in our schools every day.
My Department has a proven track record of delivery. During the period 2018 to 2022, nearly 900 school building projects were completed. This includes 16 building projects across County Clare and a total investment of over €95 million in schools in that county.
The key drivers of capital investment in the schools sector are as follows:
•demographic change, including keeping pace with delivery of SEN and accommodation for Ukrainian pupils particularly at Post Primary level,
•alignment with housing provision and national planning at school planning area level,
•construction costs,
•climate action objectives including deep energy retrofit.
My Department completed over 180 projects last year, including 4 in County Clare, within a challenging construction sector environment of high inflation, labour shortages and supply chain issues.
There are 29 projects under the Large Scale and Additional Accommodation Scheme in Co Clare. The current status of all projects and completions from 2010 to date is listed on a county by county basis at www.gov.ie and is updated on a regular basis to reflect their progress through the various stages of capital appraisal, site acquisition, design, tender and construction
In addition, where accelerated delivery of accommodation is required, the Department utilises its Modular Accommodation Framework to provide critical mainstream school places and places for students with special educational needs. There are currently 12 projects underway in Co. Clare.
Key priorities for my Department are supporting the operation of the school system and adding necessary capacity to cater for special education needs provision, mainstream demographics and catering for students from Ukraine and other countries under the International Protection system.
My Department is working proactively to ensure that all school building contracts are awarded and progressed as expeditiously as possible, while working within the parameters set by the Office of Government Procurement and principles of public procurement set out at both national and EU level.
