Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 March 2023
162. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education for an update on the building programme review; what stage is this review at; when this review will be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13985/23]
View answerMy Department has a strong track record of delivery of school building projects and this was achieved again in 2022 notwithstanding the wider construction sector environment of high inflation, labour shortages and supply chain issues.
Under Project Ireland 2040, the Department of Education is investing €4.4 billion over the period 2021 to 2025, to add capacity and develop and upgrade school facilities across the country for the almost one million students and over 100,000 staff that learn and work in our schools every day. Over the last 3 years this Government has invested €2.6 billion in school buildings. This is a record level of investment and has helped to add capacity and modernise existing accommodation in schools throughout the country.
The key drivers of capital investment in the schools sector are as follows:
- demographic change, including keeping pace with delivery of SEN and accommodation for Ukrainian pupils particularly at Post Primary
- ensuring alignment with housing provision as best as possible,
- construction costs,
- delivering on the Climate Agenda in the schools sector
Key achievements by my Department in 2022 include:
- There were circa. 180 school building projects delivered during 2022 and a further 300 school building projects remained under construction at the start of 2023 – the majority of which will be completed over the course of this year and early 2024. In this regard, it is worth noting that there were over 50 new school buildings under construction over the course of 2022. This is providing high quality new and modern facilities in schools throughout the country.
- Accelerated delivery of modular accommodation to facilitate additional capacity in special classes and special schools to cater for over 900 children with additional needs.
- Successfully supported and facilitated the enrolment of over 15,000 children from Ukraine in our primary and post-primary schools. It is worth highlighting that our approach is based on integration and inclusion that supports both the educational and well-being of the children that have come to Ireland as a result of the ongoing war in Ukraine.
- Necessary refurbishment and maintenance through small-scale works across nearly 1,000 schools.
- 16 Deep Energy Retrofit Pathfinder projects ongoing in partnership with SEAI which is shaping our direction of travel for delivering on the climate agenda in the schools sector.
- Strategic initiatives put in place to support planning for school provision requirements include the Department’s Geographic Information System, National Inventory of School Capacity, engagement with key stakeholders and also setting up of 16 Regional Education and Language Teams (REALTs) to facilitate enrolment of children from Ukraine in a structured and coordinated manner.
- Strategic initiatives put in place to support delivery include use of project manager supports, procurement frameworks, variety of delivery mechanisms and a strong pipeline of projects.
My Department's Planning and Building Unit is currently assessing its work programme and priorities for the remainder of 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 at the advanced stages of engagement 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.
Going forward, capital allocations for the medium term to 2028 will be determined later this year as part of a review of the NDP. The Department is anxious to ensure that the capital allocations are sufficient to ensure a smooth as possible delivery of urgently required school building projects.
