Martin Kenny
Question:89. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Education for an update on the application for capital investment for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3724/25]
View answerThursday, 6 February 2025
Questions (89)
Written answers
I can confirm to the Deputy, that my Department has approved capital funding, under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme, for the school in question for a traditional building project consisting of 3 Mainstream general classrooms, 1 Music room,1 Science lab & prep area, 1 Graphics room,1 Home economics room, 1 Construction room & prep area, 1 Special education classroom & 1 Universal access toilet. This project has been devolved to the school authorities for delivery and is currently at stage 2b - Detailed design.
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 at other schools in the area.
I am pleased to confirm that 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.
In County Sligo alone, from 2020 to the end of December 2024, the department has invested €48.15m in school infrastructure and completed 18 school building projects. As at end of December 2024 a further 3 projects were in construction in Co Sligo and 2 at tender stage.
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.