William Aird
Question:643. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on the provision of two classrooms at a school (details supplied). [1804/25]
View answerWednesday, 22 January 2025
Questions (643)
Written answers
I can confirm to the Deputy that the Department has received an application from the school in question for the provision of 2x temporary classrooms. The school currently has a project for 4x Special education classrooms approved by the Department which is currently at design stage of the process.
Since 2020, my department has invested over €5.7 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 1,150 school building projects and with construction currently underway at approximately 300 other projects, which includes new school buildings some of which are being delivered in phases. These 300 projects currently at construction involve a total State investment of over €1.3bn.
The Department previously announced 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 NCSE has responsibility for co-ordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs nationwide. Over the last two years, the department and the NCSE have worked closely on a more streamlined and joined up planning process which has ensured a targeted approach to meet demand for special education placements ahead of each new school year. The Department continues to work with the NCSE in relation to the short-term requirements for special class and special school places and the more strategic and longer-term requirements. The Department is aware that the NCSE is currently engaging with the patron of the school in question in this regard.
I want to assure you that the 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 appropriate to their needs.