Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 December 2025
144. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Youth the plans there are to reduce the number of quangos and strip out the amassed red tape and bureaucracy that exists, in order to allow the delivery of projects under her Department’s remit in a more timely, efficient and customer-friendly manner; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68370/25]
View answerMy Department is quite unique across Government in the sense that it is directly involved in the planning and delivery of the capital programme for both the Education and Youth sectors. While there is a reliance on individual school authorities and other delivery partners such as Education and Training Boards to support delivery on a devolved basis, my Department’s Planning & Building Unit is directly involved in guiding and supporting the management and delivery of these projects.
My Department has a strong track record of delivery and a strong emphasis is placed on the use of standardised designs, specifications and layouts to support this delivery. My Department’s Planning and Building Unit has also procured a range of contractor, modular and Design Team frameworks to assist school authorities and Education Training Boards with project delivery.
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, repurposing 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.
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. A focus of this plan will be, in the first instance, to maximise the capacity of the existing school estate as much as possible. Additional capacity will be provided through targeted and prioritised projects which will be delivered over the course of 2026 to 2030 which will meet the most urgent and prioritised needs while ensuring delivery that is affordable, offers value for money, and meets functional needs.
My Department is committed to ensuring that its services are delivered efficiently and effectively, with the interests of students, parents, and the wider community at the forefront, recognising the importance of minimising unnecessary processes to facilitate timely project delivery.
The Department is at the frontline of delivery and continually undertakes reviews of the processes and structures in place to identify opportunities for greater efficiency and improved delivery within the parameters of NDP funding and will continue to do so going forward.
