Written Answers Nos. 270-289
270. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Youth to urgently consider expanding the criteria for DEIS, in view of the unprecedented situation some schools (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68534/25]
View answer276. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason a school (details supplied) is not being included in the DEIS scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68634/25]
View answer293. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Youth if urgent assistance will be provided to a school in County Kerry (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68887/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 270, 276 and 293 together.
Tackling education disadvantage and helping students reach their full potential is a key priority for the Minister for Education and Youth, and for the Government.Currently, the DEIS programme supports almost 1,200 primary and post-primary schools, reaching approximately 260,000 students, with an annual investment of over €180 million. Budget 2026 allocates an additional €16 million in 2026, rising to €48 million in 2027, to support the implementation of the new DEIS Strategy and introduce the DEIS Plus scheme, which will commence in 2026.
Schools also have access to universal supports such as wellbeing supports for students through the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS), additional teaching hours under the English as an Additional Language (EAL) scheme and advisory support from the Department’s Inspectorate.
The new DEIS Strategy will include a focus on developing more innovative approaches to addressing educational disadvantage in all schools and working towards a more flexible system of support to ensure that a school can receive the right support at the right time. This will involve a more dynamic resource allocation model where levels of resources more accurately follow the levels of need identified by objective data.
The details of the DEIS Strategy are being finalised and will be published early in 2026. Any future expansion of the DEIS programme and allocation of overall resources will be considered within the context of the new DEIS Strategy and the availability of resources.
Meeting the educational needs of children and young people arriving from Ukraine and other countries is also a priority for the Government, and the Department of Education and Youth is determined to support the efforts of school communities across the country who have shown huge commitment and generosity. Regional Education and Language Teams (REALTs) provide support to families who have newly arrived or who have been transferred to a new location, to find school places and to enrol in school.
The Special Education Teaching allocation provides a single unified allocation for special educational support teaching needs to each school, based on each school’s educational profile and encompasses EAL allocation that schools were allocated in previous years. The department's policies enable flexible resource allocation, including additional EAL hours and positions, to meet these varying needs. Schools may also apply for further language support through the staffing appeals process.
Schools are advised to notify the department of changes in enrolment throughout the 2025/26 academic year in respect of language support for new entrants and this sanction will be reviewed.
Schools should also reach out directly to Oide at primarysupport@oide.ie for queries on additional support, particularly EAL support.
The hot school meals team at the Department of Social Protection is in communication with the principal of this school. The team is actively engaging with remote schools to help them source suppliers.
271. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Education and Youth the way in which schools will be selected for DEIS band 1 under the new DEIS Strategy; the data which will be used to inform this decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68563/25]
View answerTackling educational disadvantage and supporting students to fulfil their full potential in life is a key priority for me as Minister for Education and Youth. The DEIS programme is a key policy of government to tackle concentrated educational disadvantage at school level.
Schools that were included in the most recent expansion of the DEIS programme in 2022 were those with the highest levels of concentrated disadvantage as identified through the refined DEIS identification model. Schools were not required to apply for inclusion in the DEIS programme, and the model was applied fairly and equally to all schools. A detailed paper on the refined DEIS identification model is available on gov.ie.
Schools were identified for inclusion in the DEIS programme based on their standardised disadvantage score. Schools with the highest levels of concentrated disadvantage scores are included in the DEIS programme, with those urban primary schools having the very highest levels of disadvantage being assigned Urban Band 1.
My department is investing over €180 million annually to provide additionalsupportsto almost 1,200 schools in the DEIS programme. Budget 2026 allocates an additional €16 million in 2026, rising to €48 million annually from 2027, to support the implementation of a new DEIS Strategy and introduce a new DEIS Plus scheme, commencing in 2026.
As Minister, I am determined to close the performance gap between DEIS and non-DEIS schools and introduce more innovative solutions to tackle educational disadvantage. Part of delivering this objective will be the introduction of a new DEIS Plus scheme. The DEIS Plus scheme will provide additional resources to schools with the very highest levels of need.
To inform the development of the DEIS Plus scheme, I have established a design advisory group with principals, Home School Community Liaison and School Completion Programme coordinators who work every day with children and young people from areas of high inter-generational disadvantage. My department is also intensifying its engagement with other government departments and agencies, the education partners, and stakeholders across the education sector to develop the DEIS Plus scheme.
The details of the DEIS Plus scheme are currently being finalised. However, schools will not be required to apply for inclusion. The methodology to identify schools for inclusion will be evidence informed, using Census 2022 data, HP Deprivation Index data and other available relevant data. The process will be focused on delivering the Programme for Government commitment to support schools with the very highest levels of educational disadvantage.
It should also be noted that the DEIS Plus scheme will be developed within an overall programme of work to tackle educational disadvantage which will be outlined in a new DEIS Strategy which will be published in early 2026.
272. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding funding available to support the creation of an interschool soccer competition for a group of DEIS primary schools in Shankill, County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68591/25]
View answer273. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth her views on the merits of creating a dedicated fund to support the creation of localised interschool sports competitions with a view to improving participation in sports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68593/25]
View answer274. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will consider creating a pilot programme in Shankill, County Dublin to create a localised interschool soccer competition for a group of DEIS primary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68595/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 272, 273 and 274 together.
The DEIS programme is a key policy of Government to tackle concentrated educational disadvantage at school level. Currently, the DEIS programme supports almost 1,200 primary and post-primary schools, reaching approximately 260,000 students, with an annual investment of over investment of over €180 million. Budget 2026 allocates an additional €16 million in 2026, rising to €48 million in 2027, to introduce the DEIS Plus scheme and support the implementation of the new DEIS Strategy.
The new DEIS Strategy will set out the Department of Education and Youth’s strategic vision, goals, and objectives to tackle educational disadvantage in all schools. The Strategy has a focus on developing more innovative approaches to addressing educational disadvantage and working towards a more flexible system of support to ensure that all schools can receive the right support at the right time. Overall allocation of resources will be determined within the context of the new DEIS Strategy, which will be published early in 2026.
The Department of Education and Youth also supports the Active School Flag programme. This programme is jointly funded by the Department of Education and Youth and the Department of Health through the Healthy Ireland initiative. It promotes physical activity, using a whole-of-school approach, anchored by student voice and student leadership. It supports schools to find ways to increase the range, variety and type of physical activity opportunities throughout the school day so that primary and post-primary schools become ‘enabling environments’ for physical activity, for all their members.
275. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her attention has been drawn to a case (details supplied) and if she will ensure that the child in question is able to attend a school in their local area. [68623/25]
View answerMy department’s main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in the area.
Parents have the right to choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available for the relevant year, the student should be admitted. However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available, a selection process will be necessary. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants. However, this may result in some students not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.
In accordance with the provisions of the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018, schools are required to clearly set out their selection criteria in their admission policies. The criteria to be applied by schools and the order of priority are a matter for the schools themselves. It is an important feature of the act that schools can only make a decision on an application for admission that is based on the school’s admission policy.
Under Section 29 of the Education Act 1998, the parent of the student, or in the case of a student who has reached the age of 18 years, the student, may appeal a decision of this school to refuse admission. An appeal may be made under Section 29 (1)(c)(i) of the Education Act 1998 where the refusal to admit was due to the school being oversubscribed.
TUSLA’s Education Support Service (TESS) is the statutory agency that can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for their child.
Contact details for TESS are available at the following link https://www.tusla.ie/tess/get-in-touch/ or by email at tessinfo@tusla.ie.
277. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Education and Youth the steps her Department is taking to ensure there is adequate school provision in Dublin Rathdown, particularly in areas where the population has grown significantly in recent years, and local school places have not kept pace with population growth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68637/25]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that requirement for school places is kept under on-going review in the context of available information on population, enrolments and residential development activity.
In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a geographical information system, using data from a range of sources, including CSO census data, child benefit and school enrolment data, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise and where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary level.
Major new residential developments have the potential to alter the demand for school places at a local level. In that regard, as part of the demographic demand analysis, my department monitors planning and construction activity in the residential sector. This involves the analysis of data sources from local authorities and the CSO along with the engagement with local authorities and the construction sector. In this way, up-to-date information on significant new residential developments is obtained and factored into the demographic analysis exercise. This is necessary to ensure that schools infrastructure planning is keeping pace with demographic changes, at a local level, where there is a constantly evolving picture with planned new residential development.
Where demographic data indicates that additional provision is required, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the circumstances of each case and may, be provided through:
• Utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools,
• Extending the capacity of a school or schools,
• Provision of a new school or schools.
If additional accommodation is required, the aim to try and facilitate this, as much as possible, by way of expansion of existing schools rather than establishing new schools. The expansion of existing schools is consistent with wider Government objectives under Project Ireland 2040 for an increased emphasis on compact growth. In respect of post primary schools, new post primary schools must have a student enrolment capacity of 600-1,000 students and must be co-educational. A lower threshold of 400 students may apply to gaelcholáistí, having regard to the alternative of establishing an Irish-medium unit (aonad) in an English-medium school.
Details of large-scale projects being delivered under the school building programme for Dublin Rathdown may be viewed on my department's website at www.gov.ie and this information is updated regularly. In addition, a list of large-scale projects completed from 2010 to date may also be viewed on the website.
New schools are only established in areas of demographic growth as the resources available for school infrastructure have to be prioritised to meet the needs of areas of significant population increase so as to ensure that every child has a school place.
The department will continue to liaise with Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council in respect of their county development plan and any associated local area plans with a view to identifying any potential long-term school accommodation requirements across school planning areas.
278. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department is aware of significant numbers of children being left without an offer of a primary school place in Kilternan school planning area; the steps her Department has taken to address the shortfall of school places; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68638/25]
View answerI can assure the Deputy that the provision of school places to meet the needs of children and young people at primary and post primary level, including children and young people with special educational needs is an absolute priority of mine.
Since 2020, my department has invested over €1.6 billion in school infrastructure across County Dublin. My department is continually planning for and investing in existing and new schools to ensure that every child in the State has access to a school place.
The annual enrolment process for new Junior Infants at primary and new First Years at post-primary is a very large-scale operation that is transacted at close to 4,000 schools across the country, involving some 140,000 pupils. My department works with schools, patrons, and management bodies to ensure that there are sufficient school places available to meet the needs of children.
Primary school enrolments at national level have been in decline for a number of years and this downward demographic trend is also now apparent at first year post primary level. There are, however continued pressures in some areas where there is high demand with continued population growth and housing development driving the need for additional school places.
As the Deputy may be aware, in order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a geographical information system, using data from a range of sources, including CSO census data, child benefit and school enrolment data, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise and where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary level.
While my department is aware of enrolment pressures and demand for additional school places in some areas, it is important to note that enrolment pressures can be driven by duplications of applications, applications from outside an area, and school of choice factors. Notwithstanding the above, in some areas, demographic pressures and other factors are driving a requirement for additional school places.
Where demographic data indicates that additional provision is required, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the circumstances of each case and may, be provided through:
• Utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools,
• Extending the capacity of a school or schools,
• Provision of a new school or schools.
The Deputy will appreciate that there can often be significant overlap across areas and schools, and the nature of the admissions processes is quite complex. As a result, there can be multiple iterations, where applicants may accept a place but subsequently be offered and accept a place at a second school, freeing up capacity at the first school accepted. In that context, it may take some time for my department to fully review the availability of primary school places in Kilternan while the admissions process continues to progress.
If additional accommodation is required, the aim to try and facilitate this, as much as possible, by way of expansion of existing schools rather than establishing new schools. The expansion of existing schools is consistent with wider Government objectives under Project Ireland 2040 for an increased emphasis on compact growth.
New schools are only established in areas of demographic growth as the resources available for school infrastructure must be prioritised to meet the needs of areas of significant population increase so as to ensure that every child has a school place.
The Capital Programme details the school projects that are being progressed under Project Ireland 2040. The current status of large-scale projects being delivered under Project Ireland 2040, may be viewed on the Department's website at, www.gov.ie and this information is updated regularly. In addition, a list of large-scale projects completed from 2010 to date may also be viewed on the website.
The pace of delivery of additional residential development in the south suburbs area of Dublin including Kilternan, along with updated enrolment data and demographic data will be kept under review and this will inform the timing of school requirements in the area.
279. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of new school places her Department plans to create in Kilternan school planning area annually for the next five years, by year; and if they represent a new school or an expansion of existing schools, in tabular form. [68639/25]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that requirement for school places is kept under on-going review in the context of available information on population, enrolments and residential development activity.
In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a geographical information system, using data from a range of sources, including CSO census data, child benefit and school enrolment data, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise and where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary level.
Major new residential developments have the potential to alter the demand for school places at a local level. In that regard, as part of the demographic demand analysis, my department monitors planning and construction activity in the residential sector. This involves the analysis of data sources from local authorities and the CSO along with the engagement with local authorities and the construction sector. In this way, up-to-date information on significant new residential developments is obtained and factored into the demographic analysis exercise. This is necessary to ensure that schools infrastructure planning is keeping pace with demographic changes, at a local level, where there is a constantly evolving picture with planned new residential development.
Where demographic data indicates that additional provision is required, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the circumstances of each case and may, be provided through:
• Utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools,
• Extending the capacity of a school or schools,
• Provision of a new school or schools.
If additional accommodation is required, the aim to try and facilitate this, as much as possible, by way of expansion of existing schools rather than establishing new schools. The expansion of existing schools is consistent with wider Government objectives under Project Ireland 2040 for an increased emphasis on compact growth. In respect of post primary schools, new post primary schools must have a student enrolment capacity of 600-1,000 students and must be co-educational. A lower threshold of 400 students may apply to gaelcholáistí, having regard to the alternative of establishing an Irish-medium unit (aonad) in an English-medium school.
New schools are only established in areas of demographic growth as the resources available for school infrastructure have to be prioritised to meet the needs of areas of significant population increase so as to ensure that every child has a school place.
There are less than 600 post primary school going children and young people living in the Kilternan School Planning Area. Capacity has been provided in post primary schools in neighbouring areas to cater for this demand. The demand for primary school places is being catered for in the three existing primary schools in the Kilternan School Planning Area, including Our Lady of the Wayside National School, which has a capital project to extend from 12 to 16 mainstream classrooms and SEN facilities. Therefore, there no plans at present to establish new primary or post-primary schools in the Kilternan school planning area. The Department is aware of planned residential developments and has regular engagement with the local authority regarding the progress of the proposed developments.
The pace of delivery of additional residential developments in the area, along with updated enrolment data and demographic data will be kept under review and this will inform the timing of further school requirements in the area.
280. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of new school places her Department plans to create in Ballinteer Stepaside school planning area annually for the next five years, by year; and if they represent a new school or an expansion of existing schools, in tabular form. [68640/25]
View answerThe priority of the Department continues to be the provision of required additional school places to meet demographic requirements as well as for children with special educational needs. Data available to my department for Dublin south-west for the 2024/2025 academic year show that there were more first year places available than 6th class children and 5.7% of first year places were unfilled.
This reflects the very strong delivery of school building projects in the area. Since 2020, the department has invested over €6 billion under the National Development Plan (NDP) in our schools throughout the country which includes up to ten large scale and additional school accommodation projects in the Ballinteer Stepaside school planning area such as the major projects of Stepaside Educate Together National and Post Primary schools. Over 1,300 school building projects were completed nationally in this time. The Department must manage access to the school building pipeline within the context of available resources, including funding parameters. 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 (NDP). All Government departments are expected to publish their sectoral NDP Implementation Plans shortly. The 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.
The information requested by the Deputy regarding ongoing projects in the Ballinteer Stepaside school planning area and their current status is available on the Department's website at, www.gov.ie and this information is updated regularly. In addition, a list of large-scale projects completed from 2010 to date may also be viewed on the website.
The pace of delivery of additional residential development in the wider area, along with updated enrolment data and demographic data will be kept under review and this will inform the timing of school requirements in the area.
281. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Youth when her Department will undertake an inspection of a school in Ringsend (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68647/25]
View answerThe project was approved to enter the department’s pipeline of school buildings to provide a four Classroom Special Educational Needs (SEN) base, a general-purpose room and Ancillary under the department ‘s Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme. The project is a joint project between the Boys & Girls National schools.
Approval to proceed to Stage 2b (developed design) was granted in March 2024, and planning permission was confirmed by the design team in July 2025. The Department now awaits the post-planning Stage 2b report, which will be reviewed from both technical and cost perspectives in line with the Public Spending Code. All projects, including this one, will 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
In February 2025, the school was advised to apply to the Emergency Works Scheme for any health and safety concerns, as refurbishment of the existing building is outside the scope of the ASA project.
The Department has consulted with the design team regarding the heating infrastructure and is currently awaiting the cost estimate, which is expected to form part of the Stage 2B report.
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. 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.
My department is now preparing an NDP implementation plan which is due for publication later in the year. This 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.
282. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will secure a place for a child in a main stream post-primary class in County Offaly (details supplied); if she is aware that there are over 100 children awaiting such placement offers in the county; the steps she is taking to address these concerns; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68657/25]
View answerMy department’s main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in the area.
Parents have the right to choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available for the relevant year, the student should be admitted. However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available, a selection process will be necessary. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants. However, this may result in some students not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.
In accordance with the provisions of the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018, schools are required to clearly set out their selection criteria in their admission policies. The criteria to be applied by schools and the order of priority are a matter for the schools themselves. It is an important feature of the act that schools can only make a decision on an application for admission that is based on the school’s admission policy.
The Apply to School pilot was introduced to simplify and improve the admissions process for post-primary schools in five pilot areas, including Tullamore. This new system provides families, for the first time, with a single online application and introduces synchronised, streamlined timelines for schools to manage admissions, issue offers, and update a central database to record accepted places.
I wish to advise the Deputy that schools continue to operate in line with the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018 and their own Admissions Policies. Under this process, some applicants may receive more than one offer, while others may not receive an offer until later in the process. The centralised system helps identify duplicate acceptances and supports families in achieving certainty on school places earlier.
As part of this process, a second round of offers will be issued on 4 December. This ensures that any places that become available after the first round are allocated fairly and that every child is considered.
I want to reassure parents that there are sufficient first-year places in each pilot area for local children seeking a place. The Department will closely monitor the outcomes of the admissions process to ensure that all local children are accommodated and to identify any required solutions if necessary. The Apply to School pilot will provide early clarity and robust data to support this commitment.
Under Section 29 of the Education Act 1998, the parent of the student, or in the case of a student who has reached the age of 18 years, the student, may appeal a decision of this school to refuse admission. An appeal may be made under Section 29 (1)(c)(i) of the Education Act 1998 where the refusal to admit was due to the school being oversubscribed.
TUSLA’s Education Support Service (TESS) is the statutory agency that can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for their child.
Contact details for TESS are available at the following link www.tusla.ie/tess/get-in-touch/ or by email at tessinfo@tusla.ie.
283. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Education and Youth when funding will be available to physically amalgamate two schools (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68664/25]
View answerMy department recently approved an amalgamation request from the patron of the schools referred to by the deputy. This agreement by the department was on condition that the newly amalgamated school would operate from the existing schools sites. It was outlined in the agreement letter to the patron that capital funding would not be provided except for essential works e.g. changing/toilet facilities.
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.
My department is now preparing an NDP implementation plan which is due for publication later in the autumn. This 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.
284. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Education and Youth when school projects (details supplied) will progress. [68665/25]
View answerThe first project referred to by the Deputy is a shared education campus project on a greenfield site in Shanlothe, Trim, Co. Meath encompassing Scoil Mhuire Secondary School and Gaelscoil na Bóinne.
The project is devolved for delivery to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) as part of a programme of school building projects.
The project brief for Scoil Mhuire Secondary School includes the development of a 1000 pupil post primary school with a 6 classroom education needs (SEN) unit. The project brief for Gaelscoil na Bóinne includes the development of an 8-classroom primary school with a 2 classroom SEN unit.
The project is currently at Stage 2b of the architectural process, which allows for detailed design/planning, obtaining the necessary statutory permissions and the preparation of tender documents.
Regarding Boyne Community School this project is also devolved for delivery to the NDFA as part of a programme of school building projects. The project brief provides for a 1200 pupil secondary school including 6 class SEN.
The project is currently at Stage 2a of the architectural design process (detailed design). Following the Stage 2a meeting, additional information was requested by the Department. The length of time a project takes to go through each stage varies and depends on a number of factors, including scale and complexity.
It is not possible at this time to give a date for completion of the projects in question. However, the NDFA will continue to engage directly with the school authorities regarding progressing these important projects.
My department is committed to ensuring appropriate school accommodation is available for all children in the Trim area and will in the wider context outlined, ensure that these projects - as for all projects on the school building programme - are subject to the due diligence required under the public Infrastructure Guidelines.
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 shortly. 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. This will be the context for assessing all project rollout for the 2026 to 2030 period including in relation to Scoil Mhuire, Gaelscoil na Boinne and Boyne Community College.
The current status of all projects is listed on a county-by-county basis at www.gov.ie. and this is updated on a regular basis to reflect project progress through the various stages of capital appraisal, site acquisition, design, tender and construction
285. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Education and Youth the amount of funding her Department has allocated to drug addiction prevention initiatives in 2024, and to date in 2025. [68682/25]
View answerMy department provides funding to five drug prevention initiatives; Blanchardstown Early School Leavers, Familibase, Limerick Youth Service - Community Drug Education and Prevention Project, Matt Talbot Adolescent Services and Crinan Youth Project. Three of these initiatives are co-funded by other government departments and agencies and my department is not the principal funder.
In addition to the services above, my department also provides funding towards an Education Officer post in the Talbot Centre in Dublin, a drug prevention initiative.
The overall funding allocated by my department to these drug prevention initiatives in 2024 was €567,414, and the funding provided to date in 2025 is €572,028.
In addition to these specifically funded drug prevention initiatives, the Deputy might note that the matter of drugs prevention is also addressed within the subject area of Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) across primary and post-primary education. Learning outcomes that relate to substance misuse and addiction are included in the health-related strands within the SPHE curriculum.
286. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Youth the status of an application (details supplied) to be included in the DEIS Plus scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68691/25]
View answerTackling educational disadvantage and helping students reach their full potential is a key priority for me as the Minister for Education and Youth and for Government. Currently, the DEIS programme supports almost 1,200 primary and post-primary schools, reaching approximately 260,000 students, with an annual investment of over €180 million. Budget 2026 allocates an additional €16 million in 2026, rising to €48 million in 2027, to support the implementation of the new DEIS Strategy and introduce the DEIS Plus scheme, which will commence in 2026.
A new DEIS Strategy, which will include a DEIS Plus scheme, will be published early in 2026. This strategy will focus on improving the opportunities and achievement levels of children at risk of educational disadvantage, developing more innovative approaches to tackling education disadvantage, and working towards a more flexible system of supports to ensure that a school can receive the right support at the right time.
The DEIS Plus scheme will provide additional support to schools with the highest levels of need, in line with the Government’s commitment. It will target a cohort of schools with high concentrations of children and young people experiencing intergenerational disadvantage where there is a significant gap in outcomes and there are barriers to those children and young people achieving their potential.
Schools will not be required to apply for inclusion in the DEIS Plus scheme. The process to identify schools for inclusion will be evidence-informed, using available data.
The details of the DEIS Plus scheme are currently being finalised within an overall programme of work to tackle educational disadvantage and will be outlined in the new DEIS Strategy. Future allocation of overall resources will be considered within the context of the new DEIS Strategy and the availability of resources.
287. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 350 of 25 November 2025, the timeframe in which the application for additional accommodation by a school (details supplied) will be decided; if she will expedite this process considering the severe pressure on the school at present; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68696/25]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy, that the school in question submitted an application in September 2025 for capital funding, under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme, for a Music room, Textiles room, Design and Computer Graphics room, Multimedia room and a Science lab and prep area.
My department had previously approved a traditional build project here for a Home Economics room, Engineering room and prep area and a Construction studies room. This project is currently at stage 2b. In addition, the school was approved 2 Modular Mainstream classrooms in 2023 and this accommodation has been delivered.
A further application for the ASA scheme was submitted 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 to 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.
I can confirm that the school’s applications for additional accommodation are currently being considered and the school will be contacted directly once a decision has been made.
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.
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 shortly. 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.
I can confirm that the applications from the school in question will be considered in this context.
288. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she has obtained legal advice on the compatibility of Bí Cineálta and related SPHE requirements with Articles 41 and 42 of the Constitution and section 9 of the Education Act, if so, to outline the key considerations that informed her Department's position, and the statutory basis relied upon to require whole-school implementation where parents do not consent to defined elements of the programme. [68833/25]
View answer289. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth the safeguarding assessment undertaken by her Department before finalising Bí Cineálta, including the methodology used, the evidence sources reviewed, and whether recent reports such as the Cass Review and the HSS evidence review were examined, and if she will publish the assessment or its summary findings. [68834/25]
View answer290. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth to set out the procedures that schools are required to follow when a parent withholds consent from specific elements of Bí Cineálta or SPHE content, including the recording of non-consent, the supervision or alternative learning arrangements to be provided, and the instructions issued to schools to ensure that such pupils are not identified or stigmatised. [68835/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 288, 289 and 290 together.
Cineáltas: Action Plan on Bullying was published on 1st December 2022. Cineáltas is my department’s whole-education approach to preventing and addressing bullying behaviour in schools.
Cineáltas is dedicated to the prevention and addressing of bullying behaviour including cyber bullying, racist bullying, gender identity bullying and sexual harassment, among other areas, in schools. It is centred on a child rights-based approach and provides a collective vision and clear roadmap for how the whole education community and society can work together to prevent and address bullying behaviour in our schools.
Cineáltas incorporates each of the nine components of UNESCO’s Whole Education Approach to prevent and address bullying behaviour. It is rooted in four key principles: prevention, support, oversight and community. Implementation of Cineáltas is well advanced. The first annual implementation report was published on 02 July 2025.
One of the more significant actions under Cineáltas was to update the 2013 Anti-Bullying Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools. This action has been completed with the publication, on 19 June 2024, of Bí Cineálta: Procedures to Prevent and Address Bullying Behaviour for Primary and Post-Primary Schools. These updated procedures were developed in collaboration with the education partners, including the National Parents Council, and are heavily informed by the views of children and young people, parents, school staff, Board of Management members and the wider education community.
An extensive consultation process was carried out to inform the development of Cineáltas and the Bí Cineálta procedures. Over 4,600 responses were received from the public consultation in addition to 78 submissions received from the request for submissions. 170 children and young people from diverse backgrounds were also consulted. A number of organisations and individuals presented to the Cineáltas Steering Committee. Further details of the consultation process and the consultation reports can be found at:
www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/publications/cine%c3%a1ltas-action-plan-on-bullying/#reports-on-consultation-processes
The Bí Cineálta procedures are centred on a child rights-based approach and support a partnership approach where all members of the school community work together to prevent and address bullying behaviour. The procedures have been updated to take account of gender identity bullying, cyberbullying, racist bullying, sexist bullying, and sexual harassment. They support schools to develop clear strategies to prevent and address these bullying behaviours. The Bí Cineálta procedures must be implemented in schools by the beginning of the 2025/2026 school year.
Implementation of the procedures is supported by a suite of professional learning resources and information sessions for school staff, Board of Management members and parents. Information seminars on the updated procedures were held throughout October 2024 which were open to school leaders from every school. From November 2024, Oide offered in-person professional learning to two staff members from every school in the country.
All schools could avail of a half-day closure in the 2024/2025 school year in order to engage with all school staff on the requirements of the updated anti-bullying procedures. Additionally, management bodies have updated their training for Boards of Management and the National Parents Council has updated their training for parents.
The Bí Cineálta procedures include a template for schools to use for their Bí Cineálta policy. This template includes common text that all schools must use in their policy. Schools must outline the preventative strategies that they will use and the steps that will be taken to address incidents of bullying behaviour if and when they occur. Every school can decide, as a school community, on what strategies and actions they deem appropriate to adopt in its Bí Cineálta policy.
I acknowledge that under the Constitution the primary and natural educator of the child is the Family and guarantees to respect the inalienable right and duty of parents to provide, according to their means, for the religious and moral, intellectual, physical and social education of their children.
Parents are a critical stakeholder in our education system. Parents’ views contribute to a wide range of policies and other developments across my department.
The National Parents Council is a national representative body for parents of children in primary and post-primary education and plays an important role as a channel of communication between parents and my department. My department provides annual funding to the National Parents Council to support this work and its work to support parents’ associations in schools. My department also provides annual funding to the National Parents Council to provide anti-bullying training for parents.
My department takes child protection matters very seriously and considers the protection and welfare of children to be a fundamental responsibility of all involved in the care and education of children.
In accordance with Section 30 of the Education Act, 1998, parents have a right to have their children opt out of classes which are contrary to the conscience of the parent if they so wish.
The manner in which any school ensures that the right to opt out of classes is upheld is a matter for the school concerned. The school must determine the particular arrangements which are most appropriate in its individual circumstances having regard to local issues such as available space, supervision requirements and how the school concerned organises classes etc.
