Eight Cork school building projects to proceed to construction following funding announcement 

EIGHT Cork schools are due to benefit from an €800 million investment under the Department of Education’s school building programme, a move described by Minister for Education Norma Foley TD as “a record level investment.” 

The funding, it is envisaged, will give close to 90 school building projects, currently at tender stage, authorisation to proceed to construction over the course of 2024 and early 2025.

Among those marked as in tender stage are Ballinspittle National School (NS), St Joseph’s Convent NS, Ballyhass NS, St Mary's Primary School, Vicarstown NS, Midleton Educate Together NS, Scoil Aonghusa Community NS and Clogagh NS.

The project aims to provide new and modernised facilities to help schools cater for growing populations in their areas and includes 138 classrooms for children with special education needs.

The funding comes under the department’s Large Scale Capital Programme and Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme for essential classroom accommodation.

Sinn Féin Cork South Central TD Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire said that while the funding is welcome, and will be of use to those schools, that there are many school construction projects around Cork that are "unfortunately seriously delayed by planning difficulties".

He added:"Progress needs to be made in terms of some of the planning issues that are tying up other projects.

“The funding streams that are available don’t seem to be available for schools looking to provide sports halls, and I’m aware of at least two schools in the Cork city area that are looking for funding, and the department is not willing to give it to them.”

Speaking on the overall investment into the sector across the county of Cork this year, Mr Ó Laoghaire said: “From a capital point of view, there are some welcome things happening, but from a current expenditure point of view, there are ongoing costs and a lot of schools are under serious financial pressure.”