Bernard Durkan
Question:326. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education to indicate if and when a school place will be found for a child (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42450/24]
View answerSchool Admissions
Questions (326)
Written answers
My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in the area. In relation to school admissions, it is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998.
Parents have the right to choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available the pupil should be admitted. However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available a selection process may be necessary. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants. However, this may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.
Under Section 29 of the Education Act 1998, the parent of the student, or in the case of a student who has reached the age of 18 years, the student, may appeal a decision of this school to refuse admission. An appeal may be made under Section 29 (1)(c)(i) of the Education Act 1998 where the refusal to admit was due to the school being oversubscribed. An appeal may be made under Section 29 (1)(c)(ii) of the Education Act 1998 where the refusal to admit was due a reason other than the school being oversubscribed.
The Educational Welfare Services (EWS) of the Child and Family Agency (Tusla) is the statutory agency that can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for their child. The local service is delivered through the national network of Educational Welfare Officers (EWO).
The EWS confirmed on 17 October 2024 that the child referred to by the Deputy is not known to Tusla Education Support Services (TESS). TESS have sent a parental referral to the family address on 15 October 2024. Where a school has no places available the Educational Welfare Service cannot compel a school to enrol a child. There are significant shortages of school places in North Kildare currently, therefore all families living in this area are advised to apply to as many schools as possible, both within the local area and further afield.
Special Educational Needs
Questions (327)
John Lahart
Question:327. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education to list the schools which have accommodated special need classes since 2021 for the areas Dublin 6w, Dublin 12, Dublin 24, Dublin 16 and Dublin 14; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42509/24]
View answerWritten answers
Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this government. It is also a key priority for me as Minister for Special Education & Inclusion, for my department and for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).
The vast majority of children with special educational needs are supported to attend mainstream classes with their peers. Where children with more complex needs require additional supports, special classes and special school places are provided.
The NCSE has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs nationwide. The attached list provides a breakdown of the schools who since 2021 have established a new special class in the areas requested.
Over 1,700 classes have been sanctioned by the NCSE in recent years, in this time 11 new special schools have also been established and many more expanded. For this school year alone over 400 new special classes have been sanctioned bringing the total number of special classes nationwide to 3,336. Of these, 602 are in County Dublin and 70 are new for the 2024/25 school year, 48 at primary level and 22 at post primary level.
Parents seeking special class placements for their children are advised to contact the NCSE locally so that their needs can be taken into account for planning purposes. Local special educational needs organisers are available to assist and advise parents on their options and the supports available.
The number of Special Education Needs Organisers in the NCSE has increased from 65 to 120 at the start of this school year. The NCSE are planning to conduct almost 800 school planning visits in the months of September and October 2025. These visits will be key in terms of forward planning for the 2025/2026 school year.
My department will continue to support the NCSE and schools through the provision of the necessary funding and capital investment to ensure all children are successful in accessing an education.
Public Sector Pensions
Questions (328)
Carol Nolan
Question:328. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education if enrolment spouses and the children's pension scheme operated by her Department is mandatory (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42510/24]
View answerWritten answers
Spouses’ and Children’s Pension Schemes were introduced in the civil service and public sector at different points in time. Membership of such schemes is, in general, compulsory for any person joining the associated main scheme, which in general applies to anyone employed in a public sector pensionable post.
The scheme is contributory and tax relief at source is generally available. The Spouse & Children's scheme provides pension benefits for the spouse and children of the member on the death of the member.
It is unclear which scheme this member is paying into, however if they want further information on the scheme they can email pensions@education.gov.ie.
School Funding
Questions (329)
Mark Ward
Question:329. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Education the funding for educational equipment and supplies for a school (details supplied); where applications can be submitted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42511/24]
View answerWritten answers
My Department provides funding for furniture and equipment (F&E) for existing schools in various ways, the process and delivery mechanism vary depending on the type of F&E being sought. It is not clear in this instance what F&E is being sought from the school in question but further information can be found on My Departments' website at the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/5e1da-furniture-equipment/
Schools Building Projects
Questions (330)
Réada Cronin
Question:330. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education if she will commit to funding the expansion of primary and secondary schools in Celbridge to cope with increasing enrolment numbers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42545/24]
View answerWritten answers
I can assure the Deputy that the provision of school places to meet the needs of children and young people at primary and post primary level, including children and young people with special educational needs is an absolute priority for the department.
Since 2020, my department has invested over €5 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 950 school building projects and with construction currently underway at approximately 350 other projects, which includes 37 new school buildings. These 350 projects currently at construction involve a total State investment of over €1.5bn. This is a record level of investment in school buildings. With regards to County Kildare, more than €310 million has been invested in school infrastructure in County Kildare since 2020 alone, reflecting a strong focus on alignment of school place availability with the significant residential development across the county.
My department is progressing a number of primary and post primary school building projects in the Celbridge School Planning Area including a new school building project for Scoil Naomh Padraig to provide for a sixteen mainstream classroom school and two SEN classrooms. This project is currently at Stage 1. In addition, there is a new school building project for Celbridge Community School to provide for a capacity of 1,000 and four SEN classrooms. This project is at Stage 1. There are also a number of extension projects which will increase capacity.
The Capital Programme details the school projects that are being progressed under Project Ireland 2040. The current status of large-scale projects being delivered under Project Ireland 2040, may be viewed on the Department's website at, www.gov.ie and this information is updated regularly. In addition, a list of large-scale projects completed from 2010 to date may also be viewed on the website.
At a national level, Ireland has been experiencing growth in overall post primary enrolments and this is projected to continue in many parts of the country for the next number of years before beginning to decline. However, first year enrolments nationally are expected to have peaked in the 2023/24 school year and are beginning to decline from next year. At a national level, there are circa 10,000 more first year places available for 2025/26 than sixth class children. There are more first year places available in Celbridge than there are sixth class children due to leave primary school.
Of course, there is significant regional and local variation in enrolment trends and projections, with residential construction activity one of the most significant influencing factors. This means that, even as enrolments nationally begin to decline, we can still expect to see increasing demand at primary and post primary level in particular towns and areas, and enrolment pressures may arise in a very limited number of school planning areas from year to year. This must be seen in the context of an annual enrolment process that caters to some 140,000 pupils at Junior Infants and First Year level and that, on the whole, transacts very smoothly. While there are 314 school planning areas across the country, typically only a small minority of these areas require follow up engagement by the department with schools and patrons to work through mainstream school place solutions for the following year.
As part of planning for September 2025, the Department will be engaging with an increased number of post-primary schools across areas of potential enrolment pressure, including areas in County Kildare. This engagement will include the request for admissions data to help identify duplicate applications and determine the need for additional places, if any, in the area. It is expected that, as in previous years, the data sharing will provide confidence that there is sufficient school place availability in the majority of areas. However, if a shortfall of places is identified in an area, the Department will work with schools to put the necessary solutions in place. In addition, the department has improved the central Post-Primary On-line Database IT system that schools use to register student enrolments. This is an important improvement and is available to assist schools to manage the enrolment process and provide real-time notification to schools where a new student has accepted a school place in more than one school. This will help identify duplicate enrolments at a very early stage.
The Department has also written to all parents and guardians of children in sixth class with advice and guidance regarding the admissions process for post-primary for the 2025/26 school year. This letter advised parents to apply to multiple schools in areas where there is high demand and requested parents to take steps to avoid holding multiple places.
I can assure the Deputy that my department will continue to work to ensure a school place for every child in Celbridge, and across the rest of the country, including by advancing required school building projects.
Special Educational Needs
Questions (331)
Réada Cronin
Question:331. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education when a decision will be made on a permanent site for additional special education needs in south Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42550/24]
View answerWritten answers
I would like to thank the Deputy for the question and would like to advise that enabling children with special educational needs (SEN) to receive an education appropriate to their needs is a priority for this Government. The vast majority of children with special educational needs are supported to attend mainstream classes with their peers. Where children with more complex needs require additional supports, special classes and special school places are provided.
For 2023, the spend by my Department on special education will be substantially increased by over 10% on last year, meaning that for 2023 my Department will spend over €2.6 billion providing supports to children and young people with special educational needs and their schools.
This level of educational funding and support is unprecedented and represents in excess of 27% of the Department’s total allocation for 2023.
This includes funding to support children with SEN in mainstream classes; funding for new special classes and new special school places; additional special educational teachers and special needs assistants.
The NCSE has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs nationwide.
My Department is engaging intensely with the NCSE in relation to the forward planning of new special classes and additional special school places. This work involves a detailed review of statistical data in relation to forecasting demand for special class places, consideration of improved data sharing arrangements and a particular focus on the provision of special classes at post-primary level.
Arising from this work, four new special schools were established for the 2024/25 school year, including a new special school to serve Kildare. The establishment of a further five new special schools for the 2025/26 school year has recently been announced.
In relation to the school referred to by the Deputy, my department continues to examine potential sites for the school's long-term location and this will be confirmed in due course.
Special Educational Needs
Questions (332)
Réada Cronin
Question:332. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education if she has investigated the former site of a school (details supplied) in Monasterevin, as a permanent site for additional special education needs in south Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42551/24]
View answerWritten answers
The property to which the Deputy refers is understood to be in the ownership of the local parish and it is also understood that there are plans in place for its future use.
I would like to assure the Deputy that enabling children with special educational needs (SEN) to receive an education appropriate to their needs is a priority for this Government.
The NCSE has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs nationwide.
My Department is engaging intensely with the NCSE in relation to the forward planning of new special classes and additional special school places. This work involves a detailed review of statistical data in relation to forecasting demand for special class places, consideration of improved data sharing arrangements and a particular focus on the provision of special classes at post-primary level.
Arising from this work, four new special schools were established for the 2024/25 school year. The establishment of a further five new special schools for the 2025/26 school year has recently been announced.
As the Deputy is aware, the four new special schools established in 2024 included a new special school to serve Kildare which was established under the patronage of Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board. The initial start-up location for the new special school in Kildare is at the Craddockstown Education Campus beside Naas Community National School. My Department continues to examine potential sites for the school's long-term location and this will be confirmed in due course.
With respect to special school provision more generally across the county, there are also new school building projects planned or in train for St. Raphael’s Special School, St. Anne’s Special School and St. Mark’s Special School.
School Admissions
Questions (333)
Réada Cronin
Question:333. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Education the plans to provide additional school places in County Kildare to meet future demand; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42573/24]
View answerWritten answers
I can assure the Deputy that the provision of school places to meet the needs of children and young people at primary and post primary level, including children and young people with special educational needs is an absolute priority for the department.
Since 2020, my department has invested over €5 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 950 school building projects and with construction currently underway at approximately 350 other projects, which includes 37 new school buildings. These 350 projects currently at construction involve a total State investment of over €1.5bn. This is a record level of investment in school buildings. With regards to County Kildare, more than €310 million has been invested in school infrastructure in County Kildare since 2020 alone, reflecting a strong focus on alignment of school place availability with the significant residential development across the county.
At a national level, Ireland has been experiencing growth in overall post primary enrolments and this is projected to continue in many parts of the country for the next number of years before beginning to decline. However, first year enrolments nationally are expected to have peaked in the 2023/24 school year and are beginning to decline from next year. At a national level, there are circa 10,000 more first year places available for 2025/26 than sixth class children. Across County Kildare there are over 200 more first year places available for the 2025/26 school year than sixth class children.
Of course, there is significant regional and local variation in enrolment trends and projections, with residential construction activity one of the most significant influencing factors. This means that, even as enrolments nationally begin to decline, we can still expect to see increasing demand at primary and post primary level in particular towns and areas, and enrolment pressures may arise in a very limited number of school planning areas from year to year. This must be seen in the context of an annual enrolment process that caters to some 140,000 pupils at Junior Infants and First Year level and that, on the whole, transacts very smoothly. While there are 314 school planning areas across the country, typically only a small minority of these areas require follow up engagement by the department with schools and patrons to work through mainstream school place solutions for the following year.
As part of planning for September 2025, the department will be engaging with an increased number of post-primary schools across areas of potential enrolment pressure, including areas in County Kildare. This engagement will include the request for admissions data to help identify duplicate applications and determine the need for additional places, if any, in the area. It is expected that, as in previous years, the data sharing will provide confidence that there is sufficient school place availability in the majority of areas. However, if a shortfall of places is identified in an area, the department will work with schools to put the necessary solutions in place. In addition, the department has improved the central Post-Primary On-line Database IT system that schools use to register student enrolments. This is an important improvement and is available to assist schools to manage the enrolment process and provide real-time notification to schools where a new student has accepted a school place in more than one school. This will help identify duplicate enrolments at a very early stage.
The department has also written to all parents and guardians of children in sixth class with advice and guidance regarding the admissions process for post-primary for the 2025/26 school year. This letter advised parents to apply to multiple schools in areas where there is high demand and requested parents to take steps to avoid holding multiple places.
I can assure the Deputy that my department will continue to work to ensure a school place for every child in County Kildare, and across the rest of the country, including by advancing required school building projects.
Schools Building Projects
Questions (334)
John Lahart
Question:334. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education the number of school building refurbishments and new builds that have commenced and have subsequently been completed since 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42597/24]
View answerWritten answers
Since 2020, my department has invested over €5 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 950 school building projects and with construction currently underway at approximately 350 other projects, which includes 37 new school buildings. These 350 projects currently at construction involve a total State investment of over €1.5bn.
The department announced earlier this year that close to 90 projects, including 28 new school buildings, would be authorised to proceed from tender stage to construction over the course of 2024 and early 2025. In total, around €800 million will be invested in these projects under the department’s Large Scale Capital Programme and Additional Accommodation Scheme for essential classroom accommodation.
Between projects currently under construction and projects moving to construction in this latest phase, investments by the Department of Education are adding over 550,000 square metres of new and modernised capacity to our school estate.
This is a record level of investment in school buildings. It will expand the number of school places, significantly increase provision for special education and upgrade and modernise our school infrastructure. The impact of this will be felt in communities right around the country.
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.
The current status of all school building projects from 2010 to date is listed on a county by county basis at (www.gov.ie). This is updated on a regular basis to reflect project progress through the various stages of capital appraisal, site acquisition, design, tender, construction and completion.
School Transport
Questions (335)
John Brady
Question:335. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on school transport for routes which are still not operational since the start of the new school term (details supplied); the measures her Department is taking to address this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42601/24]
View answerWritten answers
The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2023/24 school year over 163,800 children, including over 136,000 pupils travelling on primary and post primary services, 20,200 pupils with special educational needs, and 7,400 pupils who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.
The total cost of the scheme in 2023 was €382.02m.
The purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school.
Under the terms of the School Transport Schemes, children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kms from and are attending their nearest national school. At post primary level, they are eligible where they reside not less than 4.8 kms from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre. Distance is determined by the Department/Bus Éireann and rules have regard to ethos and language.
Bus Éireann has reported that unfortunately, for a small number of families who were issued a ticket for the 2024/2025 school year, difficulties have arisen in some localities where services could not commence as expected.
These difficulties have arisen in some cases due to lack of driver or contractor availability, or where zero bids were received for a service, despite repeated efforts to procure one.
While the situation is dynamic with solutions being found on a regular basis, currently this represents approximately 0.5% of vehicles operating mainstream school transport services nationally. Bus Éireann has contacted the affected families directly and will maintain communications with them. These routes are going through various stages of the procurement process.
An “Exceptional No Service Interim Grant” payable by the Department, which will be based on the number of days children attend school will be made available to the families. Bus Éireann have contacted these families directly. Families do not need to make an application for the exceptional payment. Those who have been issued a ticket and do not have a service in place will be contacted by School Transport Section in the Department.
Work is continuing in order to resolve this matter and Bus Éireann are committed to providing transport to these students as quickly as is possible.
School Facilities
Questions (336)
Carol Nolan
Question:336. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education if she will support the urgent need for improved physical education facilities at a school in Offaly (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42622/24]
View answerWritten answers
I can confirm to the Deputy, that my Department is not in receipt of an application from the school in question for capital funding under my Department’s Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme.
The purpose of the ASA scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream and special education classroom accommodation is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year and where the need cannot be met by the school’s existing accommodation or by available accommodation at other schools in the area.
Investment and expenditure on PE Halls is an element of the overall School Building Programme. The provision of GP rooms and PE Halls, at primary and post primary level respectively, and outdoor hard play areas, form part of the accommodation brief for all new school buildings. This is also the case where a major building or refurbishment project is being delivered for an existing school.
A future strengthened focus on refurbishment of existing school stock will have different strands and will include a PE build and modernisation programme which will enable students in post-primary schools to have access to appropriate facilities to support PE provision, particularly also in the context of the roll-out of PE as a leaving-certificate subject. Enhanced and modernised PE facilities will also provide important amenities for local communities.
However, the main focus of the Department’s capital funding over the last decade and for the coming period is on provision of critical additional capacity to cater for increasing demographics and children with special education needs.
The Department is required to manage the overall school building programme so that we target and prioritise areas that are under greatest pressure for additional school places. This reflects the Department’s fundamental objective of ensuring the availability of a school place for every child.
Currently, improvements in PE facilities does not fall under the remit of the ASA scheme. The overall position with regard to potential modernisation and replacement of existing school infrastructure will be kept under review as capital funding allocations for future years are clarified.
Schools Building Projects
Questions (337)
Ged Nash
Question:337. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education why the period for 'further information' to Meath County Council was extended to January 2025 in the case of a school building (details supplied), when the original request was made to her Department in April 2024; whether the Department requested the additional time; if so, why; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42631/24]
View answerWritten answers
Work is ongoing on the preparation of the response by my officials to the Request for Further Information (RFI) received from the local authority for the school project referred to by the Deputy.
The original date for submission to the local authority for the RFI was the 15th October 2024, however more information was required by Meath County Council. To allow for the gathering and collation of this additional information an extension to the deadline was needed.
This extension was granted and the deadline is now the 25th of January 2025.
It is expected that the response will be submitted in Q4 2024, in advance of the deadline, pending receipt of the necessary documentation.
My Department continues to liaise with the school and Patron Body to keep them updated on the progression of the permanent school.
Residential Institutions
Questions (338)
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
Question:338. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Education the status of the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42632/24]
View answerWritten answers
Section 22 of the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012 provides for the making of appeals against decisions of the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board, also known as Caranua. It is provided that such appeals would be hard by an independent Appeals Officer and should be made within 30 days of the decision being appealed.
I understand that in the case referred to by the Deputy, the individual concerned made such an appeal and that the appeal was not upheld by the Appeals Officer.
School Equipment
Questions (339)
Neasa Hourigan
Question:339. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Education the plans to expand the current pilot project in Munster for students with visual impairment to receive ongoing orientation and mobility supports throughout their school lives; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42657/24]
View answerWritten answers
The Department of Education has partnered with the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind (IGDB) since 1999 to provide the Child Mobility Programme to blind and visually impaired children in primary and post primary schools. This programme is funded via a grant for the services of a Mobility Officer employed by the IGDB who provides mobility training to visually impaired children. The Mobility officer is a qualified rehabilitation worker/Mobility Instructor who has considerable experience in both Ireland and the United Kingdom and has been working on the Child Mobility Programme since its inception.
Instruction is mostly on a one-to-one basis in a range of environments, including the school environment, until the child has reached a safe and efficient standard of mobility. The Mobility Officer also advises schools in relation to sourcing materials or specialist equipment for blind/visually, impaired persons to lesson planning and providing advice to schools. There were 48 participants on this programme in 2022. Funding of €68,886 was provided for 2023.
The exchequer currently provides significant funds to organisations via the Health Service Executive (HSE) to provide mobility and orientation training nationally to those with vision impairment.
The Department of Education cannot duplicate the provision of funds to provide services that are already covered within the service delivery agreements that the HSE have in place for the provision of mobility and orientation training.
The department recognises the importance of this training in supporting people with vision impairment. However, while there are currently no plans to expand the programme further, Department officials have been engaging with their counterparts in both the HSE and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth with a view to delivering an integrated model of services which will support students not only in education settings but in all settings i.e. home, local community etc.
School Transport
Questions (340)
Carol Nolan
Question:340. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education the amount provided through the interim special transport grant to parents or individuals who have to access private school transport from 2021 to date; if the amounts can be provided on a county-by-county basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42658/24]
View answerWritten answers
The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the 2023/24 school year over 163,800 children, including over 136,000 pupils travelling on primary and post primary services, 20,200 pupils with special educational needs, and 7,400 pupils who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.
The total cost of the scheme in 2023 was €382.02m.
Over 140,000 mainstream tickets have issued for the 2024/2025 school year, which is already 3% more than the total tickets issued for the full 2023/2024 school year.
In some circumstances a parent/guardian may be eligible for a Special Transport Grant (STG) toward the cost of private transport arrangements.
The Special Transport Grant (STG) may be provided to families of eligible children or young people in on either an interim or full time basis in situations where:
• Bus Éireann is not able to provide a transport service and a family is waiting on the commencement of the service
• a child's or young person’s behavioural difficulties or medical needs are such as to make the provision of a transport service unsuitable.
• an escort is considered necessary, and the provision of such support is not available.
• the cost of establishing/maintaining a service is considered prohibitive.
Special Transport Grants are based on the numbers of days the child/young person attends school following the date of application for school transport.
With effect from the start of the 2024/2025 school year that the rate of the Special Transport Grant has increased as recommended in the Review of the School Transport Scheme which was published in February 2024.
The increased rate is 41.80 cent for the 6,437 kilometres travelled and 31.78 cent per kilometre for each kilometre travelled thereafter.
The information cannot be provided in the manner requested by the Deputy as the Department does not retain the information required by the Deputy on a by county basis as many children do not attend school in the county they reside. There is no cost differentiation between the interim and Special Transport Grant (STG) and they are issued to families in the same way. The total annual cost is based on payments of both grants and is supplied in the table below.
|
Special Transport Grant (STG) Spend |
||
|
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
|
2,962,694.30 |
2,900,947.13 |
3,377,069.18 |
Schools Building Projects
Questions (341)
Leo Varadkar
Question:341. Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Education the reason a school (details supplied) was refused funding for roof repairs. [42675/24]
View answerWritten answers
The school to which the Deputy refers submitted an application for funding under the Emergency Works Scheme (EWS) for roof works.
With regards to the application in question, as the roof works were completed in 2016 it was recommended that the school's Board of Management revert back to the original design team (consultant and roofing contractor) seeking an explanation of why the current roof, refurbished in 2016, has failed.
In light of this information it was deemed that the works do not fall within the remit of the EWS and therefore the application seeking funding in respect of same was rejected. The option is open to the school in question to appeal this decision via the Esinet system. The appeal should include additional relevant information that was not provided as part of the initial EWS application.
Schools Building Projects
Questions (342)
Marian Harkin
Question:342. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Education when a modular building will be delivered to a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42695/24]
View answerWritten answers
I can confirm to the Deputy, that provisional approval has been given under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme for 8 modular mainstream classrooms and 1 modular special education classroom. This project has been assigned to the Project Management Framework for delivery and is currently in the final stages of the process. My officials will be in contact with the school authorities shortly in relation to the next steps and remain available to assist them at all stages during the process.
The Deputy will be aware that my Department has broadened its delivery streams and is utilising Modern Methods of Construction, including Modular Accommodation, as well as traditional construction delivery methods. Modular accommodation has particular advantages in terms of overall timelines and also climate impact in that they generally use decarbonised heating sources.
In overall terms, it is important to have a range of delivery mechanisms for delivering school accommodation to support the current very strong and ambitious roll out of school building projects. This is particular relevant given the overall challenging construction sector market.
The Department has a significant modular accommodation programme in place to assist schools in the provision of additional capacity, including in respect of facilitating the establishment of special classes.
This programme involves the use of Project Management supports which is designed to enable the accommodation to be provided as quickly as possible and help ease the administrative workload for school authorities in relation to the management and delivery of projects.
The use of the Department’s Modular Accommodation Framework also assists in ensuring lead in periods for procurement of modular accommodation are minimised to the greatest extent possible.
The Department is working closely with the Project Management teams and the modular accommodation suppliers to ensure additional capacity for the schools sector is delivered as quickly as possible.
Since 2020, my Department has invested over €5 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 950 school building projects and with construction currently underway at approximately 350 other projects, which includes 37 new school buildings. These 350 projects currently at construction involve a total State investment of over €1.5bn.
The Department announced earlier in the year that close to 90 projects, including 28 new school buildings, would be authorised to proceed from tender stage to construction over the course of 2024 and early 2025. In total, around €800 million will be invested in these projects under the department’s Large Scale Capital Programme and Additional Accommodation Scheme for essential classroom accommodation.
Between projects currently under construction and projects moving to construction in this latest phase, investments by the Department of Education are adding over 550,000 square metres of new and modernised capacity to our school estate.
This is a record level of investment in school buildings. It will expand the number of school places, significantly increase provision for special education and upgrade and modernise our school infrastructure. The impact of this will be felt in communities right around the country.
I can assure the Deputy that the accommodation approved for the school in question will be progressed as soon as possible.