I propose to take Questions Nos. 808 to 815, inclusive, and 817 to 819, inclusive, together.
For school planning purposes, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and utilises a Geographical Information System to anticipate school place demand and to support its strategic planning for capital investment.
Information from a range of sources, including Child Benefit data, school enrolment data and information on residential development activity is used for this purpose. Additionally, Project Ireland 2040 population and housing targets inform my Department's projections of school place requirements. Where the geo-spatial assessment of demand and capacity in an area indicates that additional provision is required, my Department considers the options of extending the capacity of a school or schools, or of providing a new school or schools. The timing and duration of the accommodation need is also considered in determining the optimum accommodation solution – for example a short-term accommodation requirement does not require a long-term accommodation solution.
My Department has a large pipeline of projects for delivery under the school building programme. The main elements of this pipeline currently involve in excess of 1,300 school building projects for delivery under the Department’s Large Scale and Additional Accommodation Scheme. These projects are currently in progress across the various stages of planning, design, tender and construction. Most of these projects are expected to be either under construction or completed in the period up to 2025.
There are currently in excess of 300 school building projects at construction (on site) with a continuous stream of other projects at or near the tendering stage. It is envisaged that the Department will deliver between 150-200 school building projects per annum between 2022-2025 period.
With regard to the availability of sufficient current and future school accommodation in the areas outlined, my Department provided the Deputy with full details of all projects for these areas when responding to parliamentary questions on 24th November 2022. The current status of these projects is listed on a county by county basis at www.gov.ie and is updated on a monthly basis to reflect their progress through the various stages of planning.
Additionally, my Department will continue to work to advance the planned and current projects in these areas to ensure sufficient places for both mainstream provision and for pupils with special education requirements both for the coming academic year and into the future.
My Department will continue to engage with all relevant school patrons and principals in School Planning Areas (SPA's) and to review all SPA's with regard to any demographic changes that may result in the need for further additional school accommodation.