Cormac Devlin
Question:271. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on a school building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14538/23]
View answerThursday, 23 March 2023
Questions (271)
Written answers
The Large scale capital project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of Architectural Planning Stage 3 – tender action and award. The School is on Campus with another Special School and will be co-located at the existing site in Stillorgan.
The project brief is to provide two new 10 classroom schools, a clinic, activity rooms, assembly hall/general purpose room, playgrounds and sensory gardens. The project is currently on hold to proceed to construction due to capital funding pressures.
My Department's Planning and Building Unit is currently assessing its work programme and priorities for 2023 in the context of its available funding. My Department's published NDP allocation for 2023 is €860 million. High construction inflation remains a continuing feature of the construction sector for 2023. As part of its planning ahead for the remainder of 2023, my Department is engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform in relation to capital funding pressures in order to continue to adequately support the operation of the school system with rollout of school building projects to construction in 2023.
The outcome of our engagement with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform will provide better clarity on the timelines for the progression of these projects. We will be providing an update to individual schools when our engagement with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform concludes. In tandem with this, my Department’s Planning & Building Unit will also be updating Patron Bodies and School Management Bodies at that stage.