Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 December 2025
107. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Education and Youth when her Department will publish clear timelines for the delivery of new school building and extension projects in Kildare north, given the admissions data showing enrolment pressures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70777/25]
View answerSince 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. Over €223m has been invested in schools in Kildare North in that period.
The NDP Implementation Plan for the Education and Youth sector will be published next week and the first tranche of projects to progess to construction will be published in January. The department’s implementation plan will optimise outputs from the NDP allocations, with a strong focus on maximising existing school capacity and progressing priority projects where local capacity across schools in the area is insufficient.
It is important to note, however, that school enrolment pressures are not necessarily reflective of capacity issues and are typically driven by factors such as school of choice and draw from outside the area. Nevertheless, demographic data, including information on planned residential development, continues to inform the department’s forward planning processes.
Despite substantial new housing delivery in North Kildare, reductions in birth rates and family sizes mean primary school demand has already peaked, albeit some specific local pressures may remain. While post-primary enrolment pressures exist in many areas, it is important to note that there are sufficient places available overall, with 111 first year places going unfilled in North Kildare in 2024/25.
The importance of supporting children to access school places in a fair and transparent way that reduces stress on families is recognised by the department. That is why, in addition to prioritising school place needs as part of NDP project rollout, the department will continue to work towards a nationwide common application system.
The Apply to School pilot for September 2026 admissions included schools in Celbridge. This pilot provided good data including clarity on there being sufficient first year places in the town to meet local needs. Learnings from the pilot will inform how a common application system can streamline the process overall and give earlier certainty to families on school places.
