Education Minister Norma Foley.

Local schools left in limbo waiting on Dept of Education to prioritise projects

The Department of Education has given very little information to the schools left in limbo by the sudden announcement that the schools building programme was being stalled in relation to 58 projects including O'Carolan College in Meath and Enfield Community College, other than saying "it intends to provide clarity for individual schools about their school building projects as quickly as possible".

It said it could not comment on individual school projects when pressed for more information on the local schools.

In a general statement, the Department of Education said it was assessing its work programme and priorities in the context of its available funding.

"As part of its planning ahead for 2023, the Department is assessing its work programme and priorities in the context of its available funding. It is also engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform in relation to capital funding pressures in order to continue to be able to adequately support the operation of the school system with roll-out of school building projects to tender and construction in 2023 and minimise project delays to the greatest extent possible," the statement said.

It went on to say there are currently 58 school building projects that are on hold in the Department for proceeding to tender and construction due to capital funding pressures.

"The Department of Education is very conscious of the need to support the operation of the school system and intends to provide clarity for individual schools about their school building projects as quickly as possible," it said.

No timeline has yet been given on how long discussions between the Department of Education and the Department of Public Expenditure will take and what projects will be allowed proceed.

At the launch of the new primary school curriculum on Thursday morning, Minister Norma Foley said the Department is "100 per cent committed to building the schools" and that they would be delivered.

So for now all schools can do is wait and hope that a positive decision comes sooner rather than later as any delays will have a major impact on getting the much-needed schools delivered on schedule.