Planning and Building Unit

• Analysing demographic and enrolment trends to anticipate future demand for primary and post-primary school places.

• Conducting the patronage determination process for new primary and post-primary schools, including language considerations in this regard

• Acquiring sites to meet the requirements of the school building programme.

• Engaging with Local authorities in relation to Statutory Plans.

Property Management Section is now called Reconfiguration and Schools Property Management

The section is responsible for:

• Schools Reconfiguration for Diversity process, transfer of patronage of schools and Patronage Divesting Process to provide greater choice for parents

• Development and management of the department's property portfolio including protection of the Minister's investment in sites and school buildings through legal indentures and school leases.

• Responsible for specific pilot initiatives covering primary and post-primary schools in the areas of multi-denominational and Irish medium provision.

School Capital Appraisal Section

The section is responsible for:

• processing applications from schools for major capital funding
• processing applications for rental of temporary accommodation and additional accommodation
• identifying projects to be prioritised to meet the accommodation needs identified by the Forward Planning Section
• preparing briefs and schedule of accommodations for projects.

Major Projects (Design & Construction Stages) Section

The section is responsible for:

• progressing major traditional building projects from the appointment of design teams through each stage of the buildings process including design, tender, construction and handover
• progressing non-traditional projects such as design and build projects and rapid delivery projects through all phases of architectural planning from preliminary design to construction and final account
• administering grants for furniture & equipment for major projects.

Devolved Projects Section

The section is responsible for:

• Delivery of Major Devolved Projects
• Delivery of Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme for devolved projects.

School Remediation section

• processing the applications for summer works schemes

Financial Section

The section is responsible for:

• making payments arising from the implementation and delivery of the Department's overall capital programmes in accordance with the Public Financial Procedures set out by the Department of Finance and in compliance with prescribed statutory tax requirements
• provision of statistical information regarding capital issues
• management of projects’ extensive reporting requirements.

Professional and Technical Section

The section is responsible for:

• providing specialist technical advice and assistance as required to all sections within the Planning and Building Unit
• development of policy and procedures in relation to capital works
• research - planning and design of education facilities, energy efficiency etc. and development of design guidance and standard room templates
• provision of assistance to schools and Design Teams at all stages in the progression of projects through the design and construction stages
• production of a suite of documents to facilitate school design including design, procurement, construction and procedural advice.

Planning & Building Unit Structure and Contacts

The unit comprises the specialist sections listed below. The Management Structure identifies the management personnel and areas of responsibility assigned to each section.

• FPSA Organisation Chart June 2024
• School Capital Appraisal Section
• Major Projects (Design & Construction Stages) Section
• Devolved Projects Section
• Third Level Building and PPP Section
• PBU Financial, Coordination and Programme Management
• Professional and Technical Section
• PBU Financial Organisational Chart