Building Project - Priorities

Projects in Architectural Planning

Currently, there are 170 other major projects at various stages of architectural planning.

The Forward Planning Section of my Department is in the process of identifying the areas where significant additional accommodation will be required at primary and post-primary level for future years.

Factors under consideration include population growth, demographic trends, current and projected enrolments, recent and planned housing developments and capacity of existing schools to meet demand for places. Having considered these factors decisions will be taken on the means by which emerging needs will be met within an area.

Accommodation requirements at schools throughout the country, including those currently in architectural planning, will be considered in this context and within the framework of the Schools Building and Modernisation Programme for 2010 and subsequent years.

However, in light of current competing demands on the capital budget of the Department, it is not possible at this time to give an indicative timeframe for the progression of individual projects which are currently in architectural planning. 

You can access summary information, including band ratings and current status, on any of these projects by following this link: 

A1.3 Projects in Architectural Planning (July 2009)

Prioritisation of Projects for Major Capital Works

All applications for capital funding are assessed in the Planning and Building Unit of the Department. The assessment process determines the extent and type of need presenting based on the demographics of an area, proposed housing developments, condition of buildings, site capacity and so on leading ultimately to an appropriate accommodation solution.

As part of this process, a project is assigned a band rating under published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects. These criteria were devised following consultation with the education partners. Projects are selected for inclusion in the school building and modernisation programme on the basis of priority of need. This is reflected in the band rating assigned to a project. In other words, a proposed building project moves through the system commensurate with the band rating assigned to it.

There are four band ratings overall, of which band one is the highest and band four the lowest. For example, band one projects include the provision of buildings where none currently exist but there is a high demand for pupil places while a band four project makes provision of desirable but not necessarily urgent or essential facilities. Each band rating has several sub-categories which more specifically describes the type of works needed and the urgency attaching to them.

Information on the Prioritisation Band Rating Criteria can be accessed by following this link:

Amended Criteria for Prioritising Large Scale Projects

(Primary and Post Primary)

Background

The 2004 School Building Programme indicated that a review of the criteria for prioritising large-scale projects would be undertaken in consultation with the Education Partners early in 2004. The review was necessary to ensure that the criteria have the optimum precision and are fully tuned to meeting the priority accommodation needs of primary and post primary schools.

The amended criteria will be applied to all projects that are not proceeding to tender and site as part of the 2004 School Building Programme. These projects will be detailed in the Multi Annual Programme currently being prepared.

Band 1

Band 1 subdivides into four sub divisions or sub sets 1.1; 1.2; 1.3 and 1.4.

Criteria applicable to a Band 1.1 project

·           Serving a rapidly developing area where either there is no existing school or where existing provision is unable to meet the demand for places.

Definition of a rapidly developing area:  

·           A rapidly developing area is located in a large urban centre or within commuting distance of a large urban centre.

·           The area has experienced major and significant demographic change in the past ten years.

·           All available information indicates that the process of sustained development is set to continue with a corresponding major and significant impact on the demographics of the area. 

·           There is clear evidence of substantial pressure for pupil places in all schools serving the area.

·           No school in the area is operating below capacity.

·           No school is accommodating a sizeable or significant number of pupils from outside of its catchment area.

Criteria applicable to a Band 1.2 project

·           The provision of specialist accommodation urgently required for children with special needs such as autism, speech and language impairment, severe and profound intellectual impairment etc.

Criteria applicable to a Band 1.3 project

·           Addressing the needs of schools that are structurally unsound.

Criteria applicable to a Band 1.4 project

Providing accommodation post rationalisation.

Band 2

·           Band 2 subdivides into six sub divisions or subsets 2.1; 2.2; 2.3; 2.4; 2.5 and 2.6.

Criteria applicable to a Band 2.1 project

A Band 2.1 project should reflect the entirety of the following criteria.

·           There is a deficit of mainstream accommodation which constitutes a substantial and significant proportion of the school’s overall accommodation needs.  

·           A technical evaluation of a school building indicates that an extensive refurbishment of existing accommodation is required. The refurbishment cannot be rectified by the application of an improved and / or comprehensive maintenance programme. 

·           The necessary remedial works cannot be addressed either through the Summer Works Scheme in any 1 year or incrementally over a number of years. 

·           There is clear evidence that day-to-day functionality of school is impaired or will become seriously impaired unless urgent remedial action is taken promptly.

Determining a deficit of mainstream accommodation 

A deficit of mainstream accommodation shall be computed by firstly determining the overall accommodation needs of the school relative to its curricular options and/or its projected long-term enrolment. The quality, extent and adequacy of existing accommodation, including temporary accommodation (whether rented or otherwise) will then be assessed. Where existing accommodation is determined to be inappropriate to the school’s long term needs, it will be reckoned for the purposes of determining the deficit of mainstream accommodation. Additionally, as a general guiding principle, reliance on temporary accommodation as a reasonable solution to a school’s long-term accommodation needs is not a sustainable position.

Definition of extensive refurbishment

As a general principle[1], when it is necessary to address all or a majority of the following elements of a school an extensive refurbishment applies. 

·           Upgrade of the mechanical system.

·           Upgrade of the electrical system.

·           Extensive roof repairs.

·           Improvements to the structures or fabric of a building, i.e. spalling concrete etc.

·           Window replacements.

·           Interior door replacement including the installation of fire doors.

·           Replacement of ceilings.

·           Replacement of floor.                                                                                     [1] The definition suggested is not intended to be prescriptive.

Criteria applicable to a Band 2.2 project

·           There is a deficit of mainstream accommodation.  The deficit constitutes a substantial and significant proportion of the school’s overall accommodation needs. The condition of the existing accommodation is adequate.   

·           Criteria applicable to a Band 2.3 project

·           A technical evaluation of a school building indicates that an extensive refurbishment of existing accommodation is required. The refurbishment cannot be rectified by the application of an improved and / or comprehensive maintenance programme. 

·           The necessary remedial works cannot be addressed either through the Summer Works Scheme in any one year or incrementally over a number of years. 

·           There is clear evidence that the day-to-day functionality of the school is impaired or will become seriously impaired unless urgent remedial action is taken promptly.

Criteria applicable to a Band 2.4 project

·           There is a deficit of mainstream accommodation. The deficit does not represent a substantial or significant proportion of the school’s overall accommodation needs.

·           A technical evaluation of a school building indicates that a refurbishment is required the nature and extent of which is not as extensive or critical as applies in Band 2.1 or Band 2.3. The refurbishment cannot be rectified by the application of an improved and / or comprehensive maintenance programme.  

·           The necessary remedial works cannot be addressed either through the Summer Works Scheme in one year or incrementally over a number of years.

Criteria applicable to a Band 2.5 project

·           There is a deficit of mainstream accommodation. The deficit does not represent a substantial or significant proportion of the school’s overall accommodation needs. The condition of the existing accommodation at the school is adequate.  

Criteria applicable to a Band 2.6 project

·           A technical evaluation of a school building indicates that a refurbishment is required the nature and extent of which is less extensive and less critical than applies in Band 2.3.

·           The refurbishment cannot be rectified by the application of an improved and / or comprehensive maintenance programme. 

·           The necessary remedial works cannot be addressed either through the Summer Works Scheme in one year or incrementally over a number of years.

Band 3

·           Band 3 subdivides into five sub divisions or subsets 3.1; 3.2; 3.3; 3.4; and 3.5.

Criteria applicable to a Band 3.1 project

·           While there is no deficit of mainstream accommodation at the school, there is a deficit of ancillary accommodation required to support delivery of special education i.e. learning supports. 

·           Some improvements works are necessary but not urgent.

·           The necessary improvement works cannot be addressed either through the Summer Works Scheme in one year or incrementally over a number of years and/or through the application of an improved or comprehensive maintenance programme.  

Key definition

Ancillary accommodation is accommodation other than mainstream classrooms or specialist rooms in post primary schools required for the teaching of specialist subjects. 

Criteria applicable to a Band 3.2 project

·           While there is no deficit of mainstream accommodation at the school, there is a deficit of ancillary accommodation required to support delivery of special education i.e. learning supports. 

·           No improvements works are required.

Criteria applicable to a Band 3.3 project

·           While there is no deficit of mainstream accommodation at the school, there is a deficit of ancillary accommodation other than ancillary accommodation required to support delivery of special education (learning supports).

·           Some improvements works are necessary but not urgent.

·           The necessary improvement works cannot be addressed either through the Summer Works Scheme in one year or incrementally over a number of years and/or through the application of an improved or comprehensive maintenance programme.

Criteria applicable to a Band 3.4 project

·           While there is no deficit of mainstream accommodation at the school, there is a deficit of ancillary accommodation other than ancillary accommodation required to support delivery of special education (learning supports).

·           No improvements works are necessary.

Criteria applicable to a Band 3.5 project

·           There is no deficit of accommodation at the school.

·           Improvements works are necessary but not urgent. Day to day functionality is not impaired.

·           The necessary improvements works cannot be addressed either through the Summer Works Scheme in one year or incrementally over a number of years and/or through the application of an improved or comprehensive maintenance programme.

Band 4

·           Band 4 projects are desirable but not urgent or essential. 

Selecting within Bands

When it is necessary to select projects from within the same band, as a general principle projects will be selected on the basis of enrolment stability; projects that have been the longest period in the planning process and the most cost effective solution.

Summary of the relevant bands