Catherine Murphy
Question:310. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education the number of primary and secondary school build and extension projects that are paused; and if she will provide the locations of same. [7957/24]
View answerTuesday, 20 February 2024
Questions (310)
Written answers
Since 2020, my Department has invested in the region of €4.3 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 800 school building projects with construction currently underway at approximately 300 other projects, which includes 33 new school buildings.
These 300 projects currently at construction involve a total State investment of over €1.2bn.
There are also circa 90 projects currently at the tender stage including a further 28 new school buildings. All of these new school buildings are flagship projects in their area and transform the education infrastructure for those school communities.
This is a record level of investment in our schools and highlights the Government’s very strong track record of delivery in providing additional capacity and modern facilities for our school communities.
The key drivers of capital investment in the schools sector include:
• demographic growth, particularly at post primary level
• increased demand for special educational needs provision
• alignment of school place provision with new housing development
• climate action objectives including deep energy retrofit.
My Department has always operated a tightly prioritised approach to the school building programme, focused over recent years on the delivery of additional capacity where required. This will continue to be the case.
All departments, including the Department of Education, have to control the timing and scope of capital projects to remain within agreed budgetary parameters.
Our priorities in 2024 are:
• Support the roll-out of urgent school building projects, 300 currently in construction, 90 at tender and a further circa 200 in advanced stage of planning & design
• Ensure the availability of a school place for every child for the coming school year through engagement with patrons and schools, optimising use of existing capacity and providing additional accommodation where a requirement has been identified
• Respond to the increased requirement for special education provision through the provision of circa 50 new special classrooms in special schools and additional accommodation for 150 special classes in mainstream schools.
• Roll out the Solar PV programme, with all schools invited to apply before the end of the year. The first phase of Schools Solar PV Programme involved over 1,600 schools and to date 89% have expressed interest in the scheme and 86% of the schools have commenced the tender process.
• Completion of Deep Energy Retrofit Pathfinder projects, in partnership with SEAI, 25 projects ongoing during 2024
• Roll out of Minor Works Grant and ICT grants to support schools
• Continued support small scale maintenance funding through Emergency works & Summer works programmes
• Support schools in respect of furniture and equipment, assisted technology and Universal Access to support pupils with special education needs
• Manage additional accommodation needs arising from the enrolment of circa 18,000 children from Ukraine in our primary and post primary schools.
The current status of all projects and completions are 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.