Emer Currie
Question:412. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if he has considered the request from an organisation (details supplied) to join the retail forum. [63462/25]
View answerDepartmental Bodies
Questions (412)
Written answers
Regional Development is a key focus of our Programme for Government and is central to the work of my Department and our enterprise development agencies. In this regard, regional development is one of four key strategic objectives of the IDA 2025–2029 strategy, "Adapt Intelligently" with a commitment to secure 550 foreign direct investment (FDI) projects outside Dublin - 55% of all planned investments. Additionally, the overarching goal is to create 75,000 new jobs nationwide and generate a projected €250 billion in economic impact with the IDA having set ambitious targets for every region in Ireland.
As the Deputy is aware, a robust property and infrastructure ecosystem can be the key differentiator in winning FDI projects. The availability of suitable property and strategic sites is a critical component of the regional value proposition and to the winning of investments into the regions from both new-name clients and from the existing client base. In this respect, IDA Ireland’s property strategy aims to address regional market failure through investment in enterprise-focused property solutions that meet the needs of multinational companies and domestic clients in support of winning investments.
IDA Ireland client companies generally prioritise the availability of property and talent when carrying out their initial assessment of a potential investment location. Once Ireland has been successfully selected, IDA will present several locations that match the client’s business needs. The client will assess these locations and then choose the locations it wishes to visit. Clients will have other criteria that are specific to their requirements such as proximity to a large urban centre, proximity to transport infrastructure (Airport and Seaport) or to be located close to a customer. These factors, and many more, make up the business needs of the client who makes the final decision on where to visit and where to invest. Finally, it should be noted that Ireland is now operating in an ever-changing global investment landscape where competition is increasing as our competitor countries introduce sectoral strategies and increase grant, and tax offerings to attract investment.
IDA Ireland has a team dedicated to the delivery of investments to the Mid-East, including Co. Wicklow, who work closely with colleagues overseas and in specialised sectors such as Life Sciences, Technology and International Financial Services to secure investment to the region. The Agency continues to work closely with key stakeholders in the region, including County Councils and skills and education providers to promote the region, including Wicklow, as a destination for foreign direct investment.
I can assure the Deputy that the IDA continues to do its utmost to promote all locations in Ireland, including Wicklow, but must stress that, ultimately, individual investors decide which counties to visit, and where to locate their investments.
On the data requested by the Deputy, there were two IDA facilitated Site Visits to County Wicklow in 2020, one in 2021, two 2022 and 2023, one in 2024 and none, to date, this year. However, site visits are only one measure of a company’s interest in a particular location and naturally, year-on-year, the number of visits to any location will vary. Furthermore, site visits may not necessarily be a true measure of the overall level of FDI activity in a region or county For example, 70% of FDI won by IDA Ireland in 2024 came from its existing client base, rather than new companies. Also, potential clients visiting Ireland may visit more than one county and may return to a location more than once. Also, the figures represent individual visits and are not necessarily indicative of the number of companies that have visited.
Finally, I am assured that the IDA will continue to ensure that Co. Wicklow is promoted as a successful location for IDA client companies.
Departmental Functions
Questions (413)
Ken O'Flynn
Question:413. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment if his Department has carried out any comparative analysis of productivity between Ireland's public sector and private sector over the past ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63579/25]
View answerWritten answers
Comparisons between public- and private-sector productivity are inherently difficult, as public services often produce non-market outputs that cannot be easily quantified or valued in the same way as private-sector goods and services.
A strong system of public administration is vitally important, not only for managing the economy but also for guiding society as a whole. It underpins national competitiveness and productivity by creating a supportive institutional environment. In doing so, it offers the stability and operational efficiency needed to foster investment, encourage innovation, and enable sustainable growth.
Government receives advice from the National Competitiveness and Productivity Council (NCPC) on issues relating to productivity performance, competitiveness challenges, and the policy actions needed to address them. This also encompasses analysis of public-sector productivity, including how the efficiency and effectiveness of public services contribute to Ireland’s overall economic performance.
The NCPC is currently developing a Competitiveness Bulletin examining the performance of Ireland’s public sector, informed by a new international measure – the Blavatnik Index of Public Administration. In its work, the NCPC regularly uses a wide variety of international benchmarks to contextualise Ireland’s performance and support evidence-based policymaking.
I look forward to the forthcoming publication of the NCPC Competitiveness Bulletin and to continued engagement with the Council on this critically important issue. The Government also recognises the significant opportunities presented by digitalisation and emerging technologies, including AI, to enhance public-sector productivity. The publication of the Guidelines for the Responsible Use of AI in the Public Service (May 2025) provides an important foundation for ensuring that AI is adopted in a safe, transparent, and ethical manner. More broadly, digital solutions can expand capacity, improve service quality, and reduce administrative burdens for citizens and businesses. In 2025, the Government will publish an updated National Digital and AI Strategy, setting out a strengthened cross-Government vision to maximise the benefits of the digital transformation and to accelerate the use of AI to support public service delivery and reform.
Departmental Legal Cases
Questions (414)
Malcolm Byrne
Question:414. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the total legal costs in defending Judicial Reviews of planning decisions involving his Department and/or agencies within the aegis of his Department for each of the years 2020 to 2024 and to date in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63619/25]
View answerWritten answers
Litigation is dealt with on behalf of the Department by the Attorney General’s Office, the Chief State Solicitor’s Office or the State Claims Agency who engage lawyers to act for my Department where necessary. The legal costs arising in such litigation are not managed by my Department.
The information requested from agencies under the aegis of my Department, is an operational matter for the agencies themselves. I have referred the Deputy’s question to the Agencies and have requested that a response should issue within 10 days by Monday 1st December 2025.
The following deferred reply was received under standing orders.
Deferred letter attached
Business Supports
Questions (415)
Cathal Crowe
Question:415. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the schemes his Department is currently running to support businesses that face increasing operational costs; his plans to introduce new schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63843/25]
View answer
Reply not received from Department.
Enterprise Support Services
Questions (416)
Ken O'Flynn
Question:416. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the current number of SME construction firms operating in Cork city and Cork county; and the supports his Department is providing to help them scale delivery of starter homes under the new national housing plan. [63862/25]
View answerWritten answers
There are 7,616 construction enterprises operating in Cork City and County according to latest figures reported in the CSO Business in Ireland statistics for 2022. More than 99 percent of construction enterprises nationally are SMEs (i.e. employing less than 250).
Supporting SMEs in scaling the delivery of homes is a priority for my Department.
Enterprise Ireland’s Built to Innovate programme is focused on driving productivity and innovation, including Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) adoption, amongst residential offsite manufacturing and housebuilding companies in the domestic market.
Built to Innovate offers different grant aid packages across four areas:
• The Digital package supports the implementation of Industry 4.0, digitally enabled Lean systems to develop offsite manufacturing capability to increase output and produce more complex, higher value products.
• The Lean construction grant package is designed to deliver higher levels of on time and on budget project delivery, through implementing Lean methodologies on the site and the increased use of offsite and near site production.
• The Research & Innovation grant package is designed to support the development of products that will increase Pre-Manufactured Value (PMV), and reduce the embodied carbon, in residential construction.
• And through the Sustainability package Enterprise Ireland can support clients on their journey to sustainability through targeted grants that enable them to develop high impact carbon reduction plans.
To date, 45 companies have been supported under the Built to Innovate programme, with a total of over €6.5 million in grants approved over the past three years.
Under the new Housing Plan Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025-2030, Enterprise Ireland will increase its level of company engagement, promoting tailored packages of financial and soft supports, aiming to achieve a doubling of its investment to date in the residential construction sector.
In addition, Enterprise Ireland will introduce a tailored training and mentorship programme on Strategic Financial Leadership for residential construction supply-chain clients to assist with financial management in ambitious SMEs.
The expanded Built to Innovate offer will be focused on three interrelated target cohorts as follows: Advanced Manufacturing (offsite manufacturers of primary structures, components and subassemblies), Lean Site Process (builders / main contractors and integrated offsite manufacturing), and Promotion of Lean methodologies along the supply chain (from design to completion).
Enterprise Support Services
Questions (417)
Ken O'Flynn
Question:417. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the barriers identified by construction SMEs in Cork regarding material costs, labour and regulatory burdens; and the actions his Department will take in 2026 to address each item. [63863/25]
View answerWritten answers
My Department does not have specific data in relation to the barriers identified by construction SMEs in Cork referred to by the Deputy.
Working through Enterprise Ireland, my Department is helping domestically focused residential construction SMEs to transform their operations to become more productive, competitive and sustainable so as to ensure that homes are delivered at scale, at pace, and with reduced waste, while strengthening business resilience to cost challenges and tightening labour market conditions.
Enterprise Ireland’s Built to Innovate programme helps the residential construction sector and offsite manufacturers improve productivity, adopt Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), and undertake research and development and innovation. MMC, which includes 2D panellised and 3D modular building systems, has the potential to deliver high-quality housing and other buildings with reduced delivery times and reduced costs.
Enterprise Ireland's Built to Innovate supports also include a focus on bringing ‘Lean’ factory process to the site. The use of ‘Lean’ factory processes on the site is new to construction globally. Lean methodologies ‘on the site’ can improve efficiency and reduce waste.
Since its launch, 45 companies — including offsite manufacturers and contractors — have benefited under the Built to Innovate suite of supports. To date, more than €6.5 million in grant supports has been approved by Enterprise Ireland for investment in SMEs in the residential construction sector. Under the Government’s new Housing Plan, Enterprise Ireland aims to double the investment in SMEs by the Built to Innovate programme to date.
My Department through Enterprise Ireland has invested over €13 million to date in the establishment and operation of a new dedicated industry led Technology Centre for construction. Construct Innovate hosted by the University of Galway and working in partnership with other higher education institutions, brings together research and industry to focus on devising solutions for key construction challenges, particularly in the residential sector; including productivity, affordabilility and cost, sustainability, quality and safety, and skills and training. It is driving engagement with the industry and has grown its membership to almost 100 companies, all of which are active in domestic and international construction.
My Department also chairs a cross government and cross agency MMC Leadership and Integration Group to address a range of barriers and enablers to increased adoption of MMC.
More broadly, Pillar One of the the Government’s new Housing Plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities is focused on Activating Supply, is about removing structural barriers to homebuilding — unlocking land, reforming planning, delivering infrastructure and creating conditions for investment.
Increasing skills to enable wider adoption of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) is also critical and will reduce overall labour costs in the construction industry over the longer term. The Department of Further and Higher Education is leading implementation of an Action Plan for MMC skills, developed by the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs, with secretariat support provided by my Department. The Action Plan recognises that the move to offsite construction can attract and develop non-skilled resources from across other industries, reducing reliance on a limited pool of skilled tradespersons willing to move from site to site. Additionally, skilled labour from other factory environments can be easily transferred to the offsite construction industry. If MMC is widely used, it is estimated that Ireland will need 69,000 new workers, compared to 79,000 under traditional methods — showing how MMC can reduce labour needs.
My Department is also working with DFHERIS and DHLGH to develop a national Demonstration Park for MMC at the National Construction Training Campus at Mount Lucas, which will demonstrate and provide hands-on training in MMC and innovative building methods in real site conditions.
In relation to strengthening labour availability, through my Department, Ireland operates a managed employment permits system maximising the benefits of economic migration and minimising the risk of disrupting Ireland’s labour market. The system is designed to facilitate the entry of appropriately skilled non-EEA nationals to fill skills and/or labour shortages in the State, required to develop and support enterprise for the benefit of our economy. Comprehensive changes to the eligibility criteria for employment permits have been made since April 2019. The result is that most construction occupations, including those which are key to the delivery of housing, are now eligible for an employment permit.
Finally, building regulations are a matter for the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. However, the NSAI, as an independent approval body, which operates under the auspices of my Department, plays a central role in enabling new innovative construction products, processes and building systems, not covered by existing construction standards, with a means of demonstrating compliance with the Irish Building Regulations, through provision of Agrément Certification. The NSAI has expanded its MMC Agrément team in response to increased demand from the sector. The NSAI has also recently developed a MMC Agrément toolkit to better inform prospective applicants and help them through the certification process.
Building Regulations
Questions (418, 419, 420, 422)
Ken O'Flynn
Question:418. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment with regard to a product (details supplied); the reason this product is not currently recognised or recommended by Home Bond despite its certification and domestic use. [63866/25]
View answerKen O'Flynn
Question:419. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the criteria and evaluation process HomeBond, in consultation with the Department, employs to determine which construction products are accepted or promoted within the Irish market; and the reason certain products that are either non-tested or rated lower than A1 appear to receive promotion while genuinely certified Irish products (details supplied) do not. [63867/25]
View answerKen O'Flynn
Question:420. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment in light of recent concerns regarding fire safety and defective materials in housing construction, the assurance he can give that A1-rated materials (details supplied) are being objectively assessed and fairly considered for specification in both public and private housing schemes. [63868/25]
View answerKen O'Flynn
Question:422. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment given the Government's stated objectives of promoting safe, sustainable and innovative building materials, the specific measures his Department plans to introduce to support Irish-developed and Irish-tested products that demonstrably enhance fire safety, energy efficiency and carbon reduction, such as (details supplied). [63873/25]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 418, 419, 420 and 422 together.
My officials are currently reviewing the 4 questions and will prepare a response. It will not be possible to issue the response by the specified deadline but it will be forwarded directly to the Deputy at the earliest opportunity.
The following deferred reply was received under standing orders.
Deferred letter attached
Question No. 419 answered with Question No. 418.
Question No. 420 answered with Question No. 418.
Building Regulations
Questions (421)
Ken O'Flynn
Question:421. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the way the Department ensures that Ireland's construction-product approval and recommendation processes align with accepted international and European best practice, in particular when products certified under UK BBA, European ETA or EN standards may be approved elsewhere; and if European technical approvals are accepted as valid for use in Irish housing. [63869/25]
View answerWritten answers
The National Standards Authority of Ireland acts as a certification body for construction products and systems providing certification schemes which align with international standards as well as adhering to criteria under the Irish Building Regulations and applicable EU Directives.
Certification bodies offering CE marking, as set out in an international standard, must be third party accredited to ensure approval and recommendation processes align with accepted international and European best practices. If products are not covered by an established standard, CE marking can be sought from Technical Assessment Bodies. The approval and recommendation processes applicable to technical assessment bodies are the same as those described above for CE certification to established standards to ensure alignment between technical assessment bodies.
However, it is important to note that the acceptance of certified products for buildings in Ireland and the mechanisms used to approve and monitor Notified Bodies comes under the remit of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH).
Question No. 422 answered with Question No. 418.
School Transport
Questions (423)
Liam Quaide
Question:423. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Education and Youth if a school (details supplied) will be included on the pilot school bus schemes envisioned under School Transport 2030. [62718/25]
View answerWritten answers
The School Transport 2030 report was published in early 2024 following a comprehensive analysis and review of the scheme as it currently operates. The recommended changes to the future operation of the schemes include expansion of the current eligibility criteria, addressing current operational challenges and moving towards better integration with public transport to ensure the best value for money to the Exchequer. It is proposed to expand access to the scheme so that an additional 100,000 pupils can be carried by 2030.
It was outlined at the time of the review’s publication that due to the scale of the scheme it would be prudent to implement proposed changes on a phased basis. A phased implementation of the review’s recommendations began at the start of the 2024/2025 school year in conjunction with the Department of Transport and Bus Éireann. A total of 14 pilot projects took place in the 2024/2025 school year and are continued for the current school year.
As part of these pilots, the distance criteria for pupils is reduced to 2km for primary and post primary and the need for a pupil to be attending their nearest school is removed. Pupils are still considered as concessionary and the priority is to provide transport for pupils who are eligible under the current scheme criteria.
A pilot route was set up in the school referred to by the Deputy for the 2024/2025 school year. This service accommodated 33 pupils on a new service and has been continued for the 2025/2026 school year.
Overall, the school is currently served by 6 school transport services, accommodating 268 pupils.
Under the current terms of the scheme, a minimum number of 10 eligible children residing in a distinct locality, as determined by Bus Éireann, are required before consideration may be given to the establishment or retention of school transport services, provided this can be done within reasonable cost limits. Eight concessionary pupils missed out on tickets for the current school year; these pupils all reside in different areas.
In the coming months, e-Ticketing will be introduced on some dedicated school transport pilot routes, with families being advised on how pupils should use their the new school transport cards. E-ticketing will enhance students’ experiences on school transport and allow for greater visibility on seat usage. With better data, this will inform future route planning and maximise the efficiency and effectiveness of the system. These pilots will provide valuable insights on the impact increased demand will have on the scheme.
School Accommodation
Questions (424)
Cathy Bennett
Question:424. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she has changed the policy in relation to the provision of modular units to schools which require additional space; if so, the rationale for this decision; if not, the reason a school (details supplied) has been informed that a modular unit will not be provided to accommodate students enrolled for 2026, including additional place for a second class for autistic children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62719/25]
View answerWritten answers
I can confirm that my department is in receipt of an application for funding under the Additional Schools Accommodation (ASA) scheme from the school in question. The application was received in September 2025 and sought accommodation in the form of a Music room, Textiles room, Design and Computer Graphics room, Multimedia room and a Science lab and Prep area.
The purpose of my department’s ASA scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream classroom accommodation and accommodation for pupils with special education needs is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year, where the need cannot be met by the school’s existing accommodation or by available accommodation at other schools in the area.
I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the school in question was approved a traditional build project for a Home economics room, an Engineering room and prep area, and a Construction studies prep area, and this project is currently at stage 2b. In addition, the school was approved two modular Mainstream classrooms in 2023, and this project is now complete.
I can advise the Deputy that the school also submitted an application under the ASA scheme in February 2025 for special class accommodation and a replacement mainstream classroom. The school had requested that this accommodation be added to their traditional build project however given the delays this would have entailed the school agreed to allow its stage 2b project proceed and to have its accommodation needs reviewed at a later stage. The school was advised, as an interim measure, that they could apply for funding to reconfigure current accommodation for a special class.
The school’s applications for additional accommodation are currently being considered and the school will be contacted directly once a decision has been made. I can only seek to assure you that we will advance this matter as quickly as possible and that we are very conscious that where additional accommodation is required, a significant lead-in time is necessary for a variety of reasons.
School Transport
Questions (425)
Pádraig Mac Lochlainn
Question:425. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will ensure that a school bus is funded to transport school children from the Fanad peninsula and Gaeltacht to a school (details supplied) in Letterkenny to ensure that those children can continue their education through the medium of Irish. [62753/25]
View answerWritten answers
The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth.
The scheme is made up of three separate schemes, the school transport scheme for primary, post primary and for children with special educational needs. Transport is also provided for children who have arrived in Ireland from Ukraine and those residing in IPAS/EROC centres.
The purpose of the Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school.
Under the terms of my Department’s Post Primary School Transport Scheme, children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 4.8kms from their nearest post primary school/centre as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
Children who are eligible for school transport and who complete the application process on time are accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.
Children who are eligible for school transport but for whom no service is available may be offered the Remote Area Grant towards the cost of making private transport arrangements. The Remote Area Grant is also payable for eligible children who may have to travel 3.2kms or more to or from a designated pick up/set down point.
Bus Éireann has advised that there are 2 pupils residing in the area referred to by the Deputy. These pupils have applied for school transport for the 2025/26 year and are eligible to school referred. They also advise there is a school transport service that these children are availing of, however the children are required to travel to a pick up point to avail of the service. Bus Éireann also advise that it is not feasible for the service to be brought closer to their homes due to the distance and time constraints.
These families referred above are currently availing of remote area grants from their homes to the pick up point referred above.
Special Educational Needs
Questions (426)
Mark Wall
Question:426. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide an update on an application by a school for an ASD unit (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62763/25]
View answerWritten answers
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is the statutory body responsible for the provision of special education and allocating supports for children with special educational needs.
Through the accelerated provision of additional special class and special school places over recent years, there are now over 30,000 students enrolled in special classes and special schools. 2,700 new places were created for the 2025/26 school year and these, together with the over 1,200 existing places due to students moving on from primary schools and post-primary schools, has meant that close to 4,000 specialist places were made available for the 2025/26 school year.
Of the 407 new special classes sanctioned for the 2025/26 school year 17 were established in County Kildare, 14 at primary and 3 at post-primary level. This brings to 148 the number of special classes currently in operation in the county. There are also 6 special schools in County Kildare with approximately 360 students enrolled.
In order to support the NCSE and forward planning my department published Circular 0039/2025. This circular informs school management and patrons of measures introduced to support forward planning and reiterates the need for families to inform the NCSE that they are seeking a special educational placement for their child. An earlier date of 1 October was set for parents to do so.
This notification process will provide the NCSE with valuable information as to which children will continue to require a special class as they progress to post-primary level and details on students who require a place for the first time.
The earlier date will allow for earlier sanctioning of classes for the 2026/27 school year, and it is the aim of the NCSE to sanction the majority of new special classes by 31 December 2025.
Budget 2026 has provided funding for 3,000 new special educational places within our education system and extensive research was completed over the summer to identify schools with available accommodation in which new classes can be established. The NCSE is now matching these schools with known local demand based on the parent's notify process.
In order to ensure new special classes can open as quickly as possible the NCSE prioritise working with medium and larger primary schools who do not already have a special class and have available accommodation to accommodate new special class. This approach maximises the use of existing space which can be reconfigured efficiently while also ensuring that new provision continues to be established. It also increases the number of schools with special classes providing parents with greater choice and reducing the distances that some children are travelling to access a special class place.
However, as in other years where schools have no available accommodation, particularly at post-primary level and there is known demand in a local area, my department will continue to provide additional classroom accommodation to provide necessary places.
I would like to stress that the NCSE will continue to support all children made known to them after the October deadline also, however, it is important for planning purposes that we set an earlier timeframe for which the NCSE has as much local knowledge and detail as possible in order to plan what new provision is required.
Special Educational Needs
Questions (427)
Duncan Smith
Question:427. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update for the provision of a special education/autism class at a school (details supplied); the timeline for the delivery of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62772/25]
View answerWritten answers
A major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is being delivered as part of my Department's ADAPT Programme which uses a professional external Programme Manager to co-ordinate and drive the Integrated Project Team to achieve the best possible timeframe for the project through the stages of Architectural Planning, to Tender and Construction.
This ADAPT 4 Programme – Programme Innovate will be led by Integrated Project Teams (IPT’s), consisting of highly skilled and experienced design professionals, architects, engineers, project managers, quantity surveyors and various other consultants to deliver the projects.
The brief for the project is the delivery of a new 8 classroom primary school, with accommodation and 2 classrooms for children with special educational needs at Swords, Co Dublin.
This project is at an early stage of architectural planning - stage 1 - where the IPT carry out site surveys and initial sketch schemes are prepared. The stage 1 report is anticipated to be received by my Department in late Quarter 4 of 2025, with a meeting of stakeholders to be arranged upon receipt and review of the report.
It is not possible to provide a timeframe for the progression of the project to tender and construction stages until such time as the necessary statutory approvals have been secured.
The school is currently located in modular accommodation at an interim location in Swords, Co, Dublin, pending delivery of the permanent accommodation for the school. Two additional classrooms are currently being installed which will bring the school to an eight-classroom school in the 2026/27 school year. Given site constraints, there is no provision for a classroom for children with special educational needs at the interim location.
Since 2020, my department has invested over €6 billion in our schools throughout the country under the National Development Plan, involving the completion of over 1,300 school building projects. In addition, re-purposing and optimisation of existing accommodation capacity across the school estate has been a key enabler of timely, local provision of special class capacity in a way that supports best practice in inclusion and integration. Circa 80% of new special classes in 2025/26 are being facilitated in repurposed classroom accommodation.
Government support for this investment, including by way of supplementary capital funding, has delivered real benefits for school communities. Supplementary capital funding of €210 million approved by Government has brought the total capital allocation for 2025 for my department to €1.6 billion
In July the Government announced a capital allocation of €7.55 billion for the Department of Education and Youth for the period 2026-2030 under the National Development Plan. As part of this NDP allocation my department will place a strong emphasis on provision for children with special educational needs, with a particular focus on meeting annual school place needs. In relation to project rollout for Large Scale projects and Additional School Accommodation scheme projects, the approach will be to continue to maximise the capacity of the existing school estate as much as possible in the first instance and provide necessary additional capacity through targeted and prioritised project rollout over the course of 2026 to 2030 period to meet the most urgent and prioritised needs. It is planned that circa 80 school building projects will progress to construction across 2026 and 2027 as part of a 2-year rolling programme.
All Government departments are expected to publish their sectoral NDP Implementation Plans this year. My department’s plan will optimise outputs from the NDP allocations, with a strong focus on maximising existing school capacity, progressing priority projects where local capacity across schools in the area is insufficient, and ensuring delivery that is affordable, offers value for money, and meets functional needs.
My Department will keep the school and patron body informed of the progression of this project.
Schools Building Projects
Questions (428)
Jen Cummins
Question:428. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth the projected timeframe of stage 2 construction of new classrooms in a school (details supplied); and the date for completion of this project. [62826/25]
View answerWritten answers
The school to which the Deputy refers was approved to enter my Departments pipeline of school building projects under the Additional Schools Accommodation (ASA) Scheme to provide four mainstream classrooms, three special education tuition rooms and a two classroom special educational needs (SEN) base and ancillary. The project has been devolved for delivery to the school authority.
The Stage 1 report was recently received by my Department and is currently under review from both a technical and cost perspectives, in line with the requirements of the Public Spending Code. All projects, including this one, undergo the necessary due diligence outlined in the public Infrastructure Guidelines. Managing timing, scope, and cost is crucial to staying within budgetary limits for the overall program
Due to the detailed evaluation involved it is not possible at this stage to provide an estimated timeframe for progressing to Stage 2 (planning). Similarly, we cannot determine when construction will commence or when the project will be completed as progress will depend on a range of contingent factors that may arise throughout the design process.
My department will continue to engage with the school authority to provide practical advice and assistance for the progression of this important project.
Youth Services
Questions (429)
Thomas Gould
Question:429. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether she is aware of changes to Cork city youth clubs to amalgamate services into a hub; and whether she will outline the impacts of this. [62827/25]
View answerWritten answers
In 2024, over 10,000 young people participated in youth clubs administered by Cork Education and Training Board through the Local Youth Club Grant Scheme (LYCGS), supporting 176 youth clubs and 2,459 volunteer leaders, reflecting the strong commitment to youth engagement in the region.
The department has not been made aware of any changes to Cork City youth clubs to amalgamate services into a hub. Accordingly, no assessment of potential impacts has been undertaken.
School Curriculum
Questions (430)
Darren O'Rourke
Question:430. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of optional language subjects currently on the Leaving Certificate curriculum; the number of these which are taken as non-curricular; the number which are examinable under the Leaving Certificate; and her plans to include other languages such as Romanian to the curriculum. [62847/25]
View answerWritten answers
I can advise the Deputy that there are currently 14 foreign language options on the curriculum for the Leaving Certificate:
Ancient Greek, Arabic, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Lithuanian, Mandarin Chinese, Polish, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish.
In accordance with Article 149 of the Nice Treaty, 15 non-curricular EU languages are also available for examination at Leaving Certificate for students meeting certain criteria set out by the State Examinations Commission. These languages include: Bulgarian, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Estonian, Finnish, Hungarian, Latvian, Maltese, Modern Greek, Romanian, Slovakian, Slovenian and Swedish.
Having regard to Ireland's clearly articulated national response to the war in Ukraine, and the principles that have been developed for the school sector which are informed by that position, it is considered appropriate that Ukrainian as a non-curricular language for Leaving Certificate would be developed by the State Examinations Commission for the State examinations 2025. A total of 549 students received a grade.
The model for the non-curricular language examination papers is based on the First Foreign Language final written paper of the European Baccalaureate.
The curricula for all existing Leaving Certificate subjects and modules, across all three Leaving Certificate programmes, are currently being redeveloped with updated curricula to be introduced in annual tranches from 2025. A total of five annual tranches are planned with teaching and learning commencing in the fifth tranche in 2029.
There is currently no plan to introduce any other new language subject as a curricular subject into Senior Cycle under the redevelopment programme.
Introduction of new Leaving Certificate subjects under Senior Cycle Redevelopment
Under the Senior Cycle Redevelopment Programme, announced in March 2022, two new Leaving Certificate subjects, Drama, Film and Theatre Studies (DFTS), and Climate Action and Sustainable Development (CASD) have been introduced in 100 network schools from September 2025.
Having regard to Ireland's clearly articulated national response to the war in Ukraine, and the principles that have been developed for the school sector which are informed by that position, it is considered appropriate that Ukrainian as a non-curricular language for Leaving Certificate would be developed by the State Examinations Commission for the State examinations 2025. A total of 549 students received a grade.
The actual development of a new or revised subject specification takes around two years; with associated Teacher Professional Learning (TPL) to commence in the academic year prior to teaching and learning commencing in schools. This means that the total time required to introduce a subject from the time its development commences until it is taught in schools is a minimum of three years.
In determining the new subjects to be introduced under the redevelopment programme, a number of relevant factors were taken into account. These included consideration of:
• subjects that were suggested by students, teachers and others during the NCCA’s Senior Cycle Review, which ran from 2016-2020
• anticipated level of interest
• capacity to develop and deliver new subjects in addition to the revision of existing curricula
providing greater choice for students to better reflect their range of interests and support the development of a wider range of talents and skills. In this regard the extensive range of language subjects already provided on both a curricular and non-curricular basis was a specific dimension to the consideration. In addition to Irish and English, the current language provision amounts to 14 curricular languages and 15 non-curricular languages, representing 34% of all curricular subjects and 52% of examinable subjects overall.
[Languages Connect – Ireland’s Strategy for Foreign Languages in Education 2017-2026 ]set out the aim to increase and diversify the range of languages taught and learned. As set out in the accompanying Implementation Plan which was informed by a lengthy and detailed consultation process:
- Four new languages were introduced at Leaving Certificate in 2022: Lithuanian, Mandarin Chinese, Polish and Portuguese
- The new Primary Language Curriculum published in September 2025 includes Modern Foreign Languages at Primary level for the first time. The new curriculum will be implemented in schools on a phased basis from September 2026.
A follow on to the Languages Connect Strategy will be developed with work commencing in 2026. As part of this work, the inclusion of additional curricular languages at post primary level will be considered.