1570. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Education and Youth the average cost per square metre for the construction of new school accommodation in each of the years 2021 to 2025 and to date in 2026; and to provide these figures separately for primary and post-primary school developments, by county, in tabular form. [64075/26]

1571. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Education and Youth the basic building cost limit or other cost per square metre benchmark applied by her Department to school building projects in each of the years 2021 to 2025 and to date in 2026; and the percentage increase in this benchmark in each year; and the factors contributing to any increases. [64076/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1570 and 1571 together.

School building projects vary significantly in scale, site conditions, special educational accommodation, PE hall provision, external works requirements, abnormal site costs and refurbishment content, all of which can have a material impact on the final cost per square metre.

The Department applies Basic Building Cost (BBC) Limits when planning and delivering school building projects. The current BBC is set out in circular 0030/2025. These cost limits are reviewed periodically to reflect construction market conditions and provide a benchmark for value-for-money assessment of school building projects.

The Basic Building Cost Limit includes:

• The Building and the Building Substructure

• Standard building elements required for the school project

• Preliminaries and insurances associated with the building works

• Value Added Tax

Separate additional cost allowances to the BBC may apply for:

• Enhanced requirements in a project to support special education provision

• External works

• Abnormal costs (site-specific issues, boundary works, major service diversions, etc.)

• Refurbishment works in existing buildings

• Up to 12.5% of the BBC (10% on existing / 12.5% on new build) (excluding the PE Hall) are allowed in addition to the BBC for normal site works such as roads, paving, drainage, landscaping and services

• Fixed Furniture Costs do not form part of the Basic Building Cost and are the subject to an additional allowance over and above those costs

• Loose Furniture Costs do not form part of the Basic Building Cost or the Capital costs associated with the Construction of a School Building Project. Loose Furniture and Equipment are procured directly by the school authority and is outside the Building Contract.

• Refurbishment works in existing buildings are considered under a separate Cost limit to the Basic Building Cost where they are applicable.

The applicable Basic Building Cost limits from 2021 to 2026 for School Building Projects is as follows:

The current cost limit of €2,420 per m² applies to both primary and post-primary school projects. Additional allowances may apply in certain circumstances, including for PE halls, external works and approved abnormal costs.

The increases in the BBC benchmark reflect sustained inflationary pressures in the construction sector. The principal factors influencing increases in school construction costs in recent years have included:

• General construction sector inflation;

• Increased material and energy costs;

• Supply chain disruption following Covid-19;

• Labour and skills shortages within the construction sector;

• Cost pressures arising from the war in Ukraine and related impacts on international supply chains; and

• Costs associated with public works contracts, including contractual risk transfer, contract administration requirements and preliminaries.

• Additional costs associated with meeting updated building regulations

• Climate action requirements, including enhanced energy efficiency and sustainability standards.

The construction cost of a 1,000 pupil post primary school in the region of €40-50m while the typical cost of a 16 classroom primary school is €15-20m. The cost/m2 will vary from project to project and will depend on a large number of factors such as the site conditions, whether greenfield, working within a live school environment, extent of refurbishment works etc.

The BBC provides a cost planning benchmark while at the same time acknowledging that variables also come into consideration to reflect the specific circumstances of individual projects in terms of their scope, scale and complexity and the challenges and constraints associated with individual school sites.