Emer Currie
Question:54. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on a school project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29073/26]
View answerThursday, 23 April 2026
Questions (54)
Written answers
The joint major building project for the schools referred to by the Deputy is currently at Stage 2(a) of Architectural Planning - Developed Design - which is a crucial element of the architectural planning process as it is at this stage that the design is developed to a stage where it can be fully cost planned and prepared to lodge for statutory approvals.
An Addendum Stage 2a Report was received in the Department on 31st October 2025.
A date for the Stage 2a Stakeholders Meeting will be advised upon completion of the Addendum Report review.
As part of the Stage 2a process and Addendum Report review decant solutions must be considered.
Department officials visited the schools on Friday 27th March 2026 and discussed potential options for a decant solution with the school authorities. These options are currently being explored further.
I recognise that there are schools with important building projects that are not included in the first tranche of prioritised projects.
As part of planning ahead for the next tranche of projects to progress to tender, the department-led prioritisation process will continue over the course of 2026 and 2027 to assess and evaluate the progression of individual projects through the design pipeline having regard to the continual need to maximise existing capacity and determine the prioritised needs going forward. This process will involve engagement with key stakeholders and individual schools and will ultimately inform the next tranches of programme rollout to tender. The department-led Energy and Condition Survey of the school estate, which will be finalised later in 2026, will provide an additional evidence base for assessing priorities.
Based on this ongoing prioritisation process some projects may be added to the list over the course of 2026 and 2027 having regard to their prioritisation and urgency of need and taking account also of the ongoing ability to progress them to tender and construction within the parameters of overall funding. Where appropriate, the department will also assess opportunities to undertake advance enabling works for the most urgent and complex projects to facilitate a smooth progression to construction in 2028 and beyond.
Any interim accommodation requirements will continue to be assessed and considered by the department on a case-by-case basis to determine the prioritised needs and approach for addressing same.
The accommodation needs at St. John Bosco JBS, St. John Bosco SBS & Mary Help of Christians Girls NS will be considered as part of the ongoing overall department-led prioritisation process, in consultation with the school’s patron and school authorities.