The Team also ensures that all funding is requested on time from the DoE/SOLAS, ensuring certificates of payment are received, reviewed, approved and paid on time with DoE/SOLAS approval. The Team also monitors cash-flow and ensures that projects are kept within budget. €19 million expenditure was processed in 2020.

All of our capital projects are subject to the requirements of the Public Spending Code, audited by the Internal Audit Unit (IAU) and the Comptroller & Auditor General (C&AG) as well as DoE individual project audits. We are pleased to have received a clean certificate of audit from the C&AG for 2020.

Property & Land

The property section of the Land and Buildings Department is responsible for all property and land matters and includes the acquisition of land, lease/licencing of land or buildings, use of facilities and all matters in relation to regularisation of title deeds for all properties. In 2020 LMETB had 75 buildings in its ownership or under its control at a total annual rent of over €1.5 million. Of these, 25 are owned, 23 leased, 17 licenced, and 10 were in use by LMETB under other agreements. The portfolio of property usage is broken down into 2 administration buildings, 4 Community National School buildings, 21 Second Level School buildings, 8 Youthreach buildings and 40 Further Education & Training buildings. Dunboyne College of Further Education is located in Dunboyne Business Park with 16 buildings being leased or licensed. The College has expanded exponentially year on year with currently over 1,000 students. A Strategic Assessment Report for a new site and College has been submitted to SOLAS and we await instruction in relation to the next steps for this exciting project. LMETB successfully completed the acquisition of a site for Ard Rí Community National School in 2020 and we look forward to Department approval in 2021 to procure a full Design Team to commence design. The purchase of a site in Dunshaughlin was also finalised in January 2021 for our Dunshaughlin Community National School and our newest school, Coláiste Rioga.

Capital Procurement

The Land and Buildings Department has responsibility for all capital procurements within LMETB. This consists of tendering for all consultants and contractors in-line with Department of Education guidelines and national and EU procurement rules and regulations. We use the Department of Education and Capital Works Management Framework (CWMF) suite of documents which have been developed to ensure that the key objectives (i.e. more efficient delivery of projects, better value for money and greater cost certainty at tender stage) of the Government’s decision of 4 May 2004 (S29837) in relation to public sector construction procurement reform are achieved. During 2020 LMETB advertised 45 separate competitions for Architects, Civil and Structural Engineers, Mechanical and Electrical Engineers, Quantity Surveyors, Project Supervisor Design Stage and building contractors and successfully awarded contracts to all.

Use of Facilities

In line with Department of Education circular (M18/05 & 16/05) on the sharing of school facilities with the community LMETB fully supports and recommends that school facilities should be made available to local communities where possible.

LMETB has policies and procedures in place to facilitate this and in accordance with these policies all clubs/societies must submit an application for approval, accompanied by their insurance.

Climate Action and Sustainability

One of the five strategic goals under LMETB’s Strategy for 2022 to 2026 is to act sustainably, in a way that is consistent with a sustainable future and consistent with Ireland’s Climate Action Plan. This strategy is supported by six actions: 

1.  To develop an LMETB sustainability policy consistent with UN targets and Ireland’s Climate Action Plan, including the specific targets set under that plan for LMETB
2.  Engage with staff on implementation of LMETB’s Sustainability Policy to enable them to contribute to LMETB’s sustainability objectives
3.  Engage with learners on implementation of LMETB’s Sustainability Policy to enable them to contribute to LMETB’s sustainability objectives
4.  Develop partnerships, including with SEAI, which can contribute to LMETB’s sustainability objectives
5.  Ensure that LMETB property is managed in a sustainable manner in line with LMETB’s Sustainability Policy
6.  Reduce LMETB’s environmental impact in line with LMETB’s Sustainability Policy

Under the Climate Action Mandate 2024 as part of Climate Action Plan 2024 (CAP24), which applies to public sector organisations, LMETB must prepare a Climate Action Roadmap to report on progress towards achieving the decarbonisation and energy efficiency targets set out in CAP24. Overall, the public sector must achieve a 51% reduction in Green House Gas emissions and a 50% improvement in energy efficiency by 2030. Each public sector organisation has been set an individual target by the SEAI for overall GHG emissions reduction from energy. LMETB’s Roadmap is a live document, which will be updated annually or as required, to reflect LMETB’s progress and response to requirements under the Climate Action Mandate.”