Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 July 2023
520. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education the allocation for capital expenditure in 2023; to provide a breakdown of the spend on new schools and classrooms at primary, secondary and special schools; how many additional classrooms are planned in each; what the required provision in 2024 is; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37028/23]
View answerUnder 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, with over 180 projects completed last year within a challenging construction sector environment of high inflation, labour shortages and supply chain issues.
Delivering additional capacity in to the school system is a key focus for my Department and can account for some 80% of expenditure in a given year. In this regard, this year alone, in excess of 300 school building projects are currently under construction, including 40 new school buildings and 260 extension projects at existing schools. This is supplemented as required through the use of Modern Methods of Construction, such as modular accommodation programme, to meet additional capacity requirements beyond the aforementioned 300 school projects.
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 the accommodation of students from Ukraine and other countries under the International Protection system.
My Department has a strong track record of project delivery. In this regard, its capital allocation has always been under significant pressure and it has a strong track record of fully utilising it, and in many years requiring supplementary capital funding, to deliver urgently required school building projects. The Department’s published NDP capital allocation in 2023 is €860 million. However, an agreement was secured with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform in April to provide additional funds to guarantee and support the roll-out and continuation of my Department’s school building programme in 2023. This agreement is facilitating the continued roll-out of urgently required school building projects in both mainstream and special education settings, including projects that were temporarily paused due to capital funding pressures. The breakdown in spend in 2023 between primary, post-primary and special schools will depend on the pace of progress of individual projects over the course of the year.
The Department’s published allocation for 2024 is €940 million. However, my officials continue to engage with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform regarding capital funding pressures in 2024 and future years. I am anxious to ensure that the capital allocations for my Department are sufficient to ensure a smooth as possible delivery of urgently required school building projects.
