Under Project Ireland 2040, my Department will be investing at least €5 billion over the period 2021 to 2025.
The key drivers of capital investment in the schools sector are as follows:
• demographic change,
• alignment with housing provision and national planning at school planning area level,
• construction costs, and
• climate action objectives including deep energy retrofit.
Keeping pace with SEN requirements, demographics and housing rollout has been a huge challenge over the years, along with maintaining and modernising existing stock.
These pressures on the capital allocation have been compounded since the NDP allocations were determined in 2021 by the impact of high construction inflation, the increasing prevalence of autism and other complex special education needs which requires the accelerated delivery of special educational needs (SEN) provision at pace and the urgent need to provide capacity for students from Ukraine and other countries under International Protection (IP) system. The national priority within the NDP for increasing the rollout of housing is also adding to pressures on my Department’s capital allocation given the knock-on impact for additional school provision requirements.
As you are aware, an agreement was secured with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform in April to guarantee and support the rollout and continuation of my Department’s ambitious school building programme. The agreement reached on 5th April is facilitating the continued rollout of urgently required school building projects in both mainstream and special education settings. Officials continue to engage with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform as part of the overall review of the NDP that is being undertaken for the period to 2028 with a view to ensuring a smooth as possible rollout of urgently required projects in to the future.
