Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions
93. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on post primary capacity planning for locations (details supplied), including the current assessment of projected enrolment pressure; the steps her Department is taking to ensure an adequate supply of secondary school places in the coming years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70838/25]
View answerI ask for an update on post-primary capacity planning in Clontarf, Killester and Raheny, including the current assessment of projected enrolment pressure and the steps the Department is taking to ensure an adequate supply of secondary school places, particularly in co-educational schools as a survey has shown that 89% of parents in the area want co-educational education.
I am pleased to assure the House that there are more than sufficient places for all local children in the area referred to by the Deputy. While primary enrolments have been declining in the area since 2018, 16% of first year places at post-primary schools went unfilled for the last school year. This reflects an overall decline in post-primary enrolments for the area since 2023 and the fact that there are more first year places available than sixth class students in the area for the forthcoming school year. Enrolment pressures in an area may not always relate to capacity. They may instead relate to school choice and external draw factors. The Department’s responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can collectively cater for local demand.
Under the national development plan, the Department of education has invested over €6 billion in our schools throughout the country, including in the area referred to by the Deputy, since 2020. This involves the completion of over 1,300 school building projects. There are four projects planned at post-primary schools in the area, including a large-scale major project which is at construction and which will cater for over 1,000 pupils. This will provide good additional capacity relative to the school’s current enrolment. This investment will ensure that all pupils will continue to have access to an appropriate education place.
Delivery of school building projects is underpinned by strong forward planning processes. Robust demographic analysis takes account of various data sources, including the census, child benefit data and school enrolments, and additional factors including planned residential development in each area. Furthermore, as with other areas, the Department will continue to liaise with the local authority in respect of its county development plan with a view to identifying any potential evolving long-term school accommodation requirements.
I appreciate that every child has a space but these spaces are not where parents desire to send their children. It is bananas. I was recently at an event with a load of up-and-coming parents, the new generation, and they were unanimously for this. The report submitted to the Minister's office shows a community that is ready for change and parents who are willing to support that change. Is there an indication of whether the Department is actively considering the establishment of new co-educational secondary schools in the area because there is clearly a demand?
I would appreciate clarity as to whether Education Equality will be included in the national convention on education. It has emailed the office but has not got a reply. It wishes to discuss the ongoing issues around children's rights and the need for schools to uphold freedom of religion and belief in practice. With the new generation of parents and the new generation coming up in Ireland, it is very important that we provide this option. We can see the statistics. We need to act on them.
There were a number of questions there, along with a number of grenades. The planning and building unit in the Department is very conscious that we need to ensure adequate capacity right across the system in primary schools, post-primary schools, special classes and special schools. We are working to that. Resources are not endless but it is important to work with what is available. The Deputy raised the issue of school choice and so forth. There is a lot of work and research going on behind the scenes in that regard. Co-educational schools are hugely important. It is very important that we embrace that right across the school spectrum. I will come back to the Deputy on the specific issues he raised.
The education convention is hugely important. This was set up by the previous senior Minister, Deputy McEntee, with whom I had the honour of working for the past number of months. I pay tribute to her and her team for the work they did. It is hugely important that the education convention is embraced because we will have to plan for education for the next 25 years and beyond.
I appreciate that. It is very important that Education Equality is invited to the national convention on education. It represents a large cohort of parents and a large cohort of the future generation. It needs to be replied to. We can be assured that representatives from State bodies and patrons will be there to fight their cases. It is important that Education Equality is there to show the other side on behalf of people who want change.
I thank the Minister of State on the record of the House for all the help he has given me in my work in Dublin Bay North with regard to Stapolin Educate Together National School in Baldoyle and for everything he has done in relation to special education. It is really appreciated. His visit was brilliant. Will he provide an update on the current assessment of projected enrolment figures for the area? Chris Joyce and all of the parents involved in the Killester Raheny Clontarf school campaign are working tirelessly to show the Department what is needed. They have submitted a report to the Department but feel they are not being listened to. I appreciate what the Minister of State said about the volume of work involved. I understand the number of enrolments is huge and that everything must be processed but the campaign has done the work.
Of 1,800 parents interviewed, 89% want co-education.
The information has been given to the Department and work is ongoing in relation to it.
Regarding the education convention, the Deputy reflected the truth in the phrase he used when he said that every sector would be there fighting its corner. However, I genuinely believe that this is a very serious attempt being made by the Department of education to engage with all the stakeholders in a meaningful way to embrace all the issues that are out there. We have to drop the sense that you either have to fight your corner to ensure something happens or surrender it. This is about having the best possible education system. We have prided ourselves the world over on our education system over the last 50 years, and on the outcomes it has delivered in any comparison. However, we have to make sure that everybody is in and everybody's voice is heard and that we bring forward an education that we can be proud of again into the next generation and beyond. It is also important that it is done in a cohesive way, that we come to agreement on it and that everyone can stand together on it.
96. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update and timeframe for the new ASD classes at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70806/25]
View answerI welcome the support the Minister of State and his Department have given in opening new ASD classes in my own constituency over the last number of years. I also welcome the recent visit he made to St. Michael's House Special National School when it was opening its new building on a great day for that community. I wish to ask the Minister of State about the Finglas Parochial National School and the provision of ASD classes at its location.
I thank the Deputy for his kind comments and also for his engagement on education. The opening of St. Michael's House Special National School was a wonderful day. I congratulate that community for the day and also for the work they do and the atmosphere that was within that school. We do not acknowledge enough the commitment to the work that school leadership and school teams do within special schools and right across schools.
I can confirm to the Deputy that the school to which he refers has been approved for accommodation to facilitate special class provision. Two new special classes were sanctioned at this school by the National Council for Special Education for the 2025-26 term. While accommodation for special classes can be provided within existing unused accommodation in many instances, modular accommodation can be installed under existing planning exemptions. In this case, a planning application was required. The planning application is to facilitate the provision of both special education and mainstream classrooms under the Department’s SEN reconfiguration and modular accommodation programme. There is provision for one special class within the planned modular accommodation. Additionally, the provision of modular classrooms will facilitate the repurposing of existing accommodation to facilitate the second special class. The school has been approved for grant funding to support these requirements for repurposing work. The local authority has made a request for further information in respect of the planning application for the required modular accommodation and a response to this is currently being finalised. Project management supports have been appointed to support the school in the delivery of this important project. Departmental officials and the project mangers will continue to work closely with the school authority to ensure that special class provision is made as soon as possible.
Where new special class accommodation is not in place at the start of a school year, the NCSE works closely with the schools and families to support the development of contingency arrangements for students enrolled in the new special classes. Teaching and special needs assistants have been allocated to schools that are opening new special classes this year and it is expected that these staff would work closely with the students enrolling in new special classes under any contingency arrangements that may be in place.
I thank the Minister of State. We welcomed the sanction of special classes in the Finglas national school. It is an incredibly historic school and one of the original model schools. The difficulty is that, in the meantime, there is a temporary provision in a local community hall where, only on a part-time basis, education is being provided. The difficulty with that is that many parents moved their children from full-time places either in other schools where they were not in an ASD class or from a preschool where there was dedicated special education. They have gone from a situation of being in full-time education to now being in reduced hours because the local community hall is being used for other purposes. I understand that there is a short period in terms of planning, building and so on, but where a child is on reduced hours for six or eight months, the impact, including on the parents, is very significant. I urge the Minister of State to make sure this project is completed as soon as possible.
I accept that totally. The school authority, together with the National Council for Special Education and the Department, came up with a contingency plan. I welcome that they put a contingency plan in place but there is a planning issue here that is outside the role of the Department. As of yesterday, my information is that the local authority has requested further information in respect of the planning application. It is important that this be responded to and we expedite it.
As we have populated these classes, the NCSE and the Department have been working with those families and have given temporary accommodation or reduced hours. That is not acceptable to us but it is the way we have had to do it for the last couple of months.
We are deeply committed to fully funding this project. Money is approved for it. The planning issue is delaying it somewhat. I give a commitment to the Deputy that we will work with the school authorities, the Department and the NCSE to make sure there is no delay on our side in making sure these classes are fully open and fully populated as a full-time school resource.
I thank the Minister of State, and particularly his office, which I have been in touch with many times on this issue. We do not control the planning process and it was unexpected that the additional information would be required. The difficulty is that parents like Marie, Leanne and others who have been in touch with me were effectively offered half a place. They were told they had to take it and they were not sure they would have it again. The building was not in place and even the solution was not there for a full-time place. Their children have gone from having full-time places in preschool and in other schools to part-time places. How they were locked into having to accept those places was unsatisfactory.
All that said, we want to now focus on the delivery of the project. I ask that the Minister of State's office keep an eye on this at a micro level, as I know it does on many other projects, because we want to make sure there is no further slippage for this school and that these part-time places can be converted very quickly into regular full-time provision.
I will certainly give the Deputy a commitment on that. He was spoken to me many times about this school in Finglas and the challenges that are faced by the parents. I commend him for working so closely with the parents and the school communities. I encourage all Deputies across the House to continue to liaise with their school communities because they are hugely vital and we should be constantly engaging with them.
We will work very closely with Deputy McAuliffe and the school community to make sure there are no delays. It is hoped that the planning issue can be resolved. Any help the Deputy can give in that would be greatly appreciated from our side.
It is important as well to reassure the parents and the students who are there. Last year, we were looking at an issue about need in this community. This school was identified as a place where we could put in special classes. The school community stood up to the plate and engaged very positively with the Department, and we thank it for that. It is important that we get this over the line and return the children's full-time education places.
95. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding the provision of SEN places in a school (details supplied); if she is conscious of the shortage of places in this area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68320/25]
View answerMy question is about special educational needs places and, specifically, the provision of them in St. Anne's National School on Stonebridge Road in Shankill.
Enabling students with special educational needs to receive an appropriate education is a priority for this Government. It is also a key priority for me, for the Department and for the National Council for Special Education. The vast majority of students with special educational needs are supported to attend mainstream classes with their peers. Where students with more complex needs require additional supports, special classes and special school places are provided. This is in keeping with policy on an inclusive education, which promotes students being supported to receive an education in the most inclusive setting possible.
The school referred to by the Deputy currently has one special class, which opened in 2024, dedicated to supporting students with autism. The NCSE sanctioned 407 special classes for the 2025-26 school year, bringing to 3,742 the number of special classes in our schools.
There are 103 new special classes sanctioned for the 2025-26 school year across Dublin, including 81 at primary and 22 at post-primary. An updated list of these classes is available on the NCSE website and I am also happy to share it with the Deputy.
For the 2026-27 school year, the NCSE is currently collating the data and information received by 1 October through the parent notification process and is engaging with schools on where specialist provision is best placed for the new school year. My Department and the NCSE have undertaken a significant amount of forward planning over recent months to identify medium and large primary schools and post-primary schools to prioritise in opening new special classes. A significant level of engagement has also occurred with school patron bodies and school management bodies in this regard.
The NCSE intends to commence sanctioning new special classes for the 2026-27 school year this week, which is several months ahead of last year. The council expects to sanction a significant number of classes across Dublin and will continue to keep Oireachtas Members and parents informed of decisions. I acknowledge the Deputy's point in regard to the school he mentioned.
I thank the Minister of State. I do not want to downgrade the level of investment in, and commitment to, this issue the Government has shown. I acknowledge his reference to the progress made in this area. However, all the announcements and good work will not benefit the children who do not have a place. I was contacted by the family of a young boy who does not have a place in St. Anne's National School in Shankill and has been told he will not have one next September. We know the value of special educational needs classes. They stop from falling behind those children who can keep up with a little extra accommodation and assistance. Such provision is hugely important and not providing it is myopic in the context of the damage it does to children's long-term educational prospects.
What do I say to the parents in Shankill I mentioned, who are now facing a situation where their son will not have a place in September? What can be done for them to ensure he gets the assistance he needs in the next academic year of 2026-27? What do I tell them they can do to move things along? They should not have to ring around every school in the area. There is no central point from which they can obtain that information.
Senior staff at the NCSE are working with the families who notified the council by 1 October this year. We are working through those figures at the moment. We want to identify the communities where the need is and match the places appropriately in order that we do not have students travelling long distances out of their communities. We want, as far as possible, to provide special classes and special schools within local communities. The family the Deputy mentioned should continue to liaise with the SENO.
This week, we started sanctioning the first of the new classes for quarter 1 of 2026, with further new classes to be sanctioned over the next number of weeks. That work is ongoing and it continues the huge amount of detailed work my Department and the NCSE have done since 1 October, which matches the huge commitment we have given on this issue. We are working to sanction special classes this week and into the new year. The SENOs should and will be liaising with parents who gave notification to the NCSE prior to 1 October.
I acknowledge what the Minister of State said. Am I to take it I may now say to the parents I mentioned that the fact they have been told their son will not have a place in September is not definitive? There is still work going on and I should tell them to continue to engage. There is a review continuing into special educational needs places in Shankill and there is still the possibility of a place for their son. We all recognise the importance of securing a place for that family and the impact it will have on them and on that child's growth and potential. I agree with everything the Minister of State said. Investment in this area is vital. These parents have been told a place will not be available but I understand from what he said that this is still under review and may change.
The previous Minister, Deputy Foley, put out the following statement: "The Department of Education and Youth will shortly agree a new process to remove the requirement for professional reports such as assessment of need reports from entry requirements for special schools and special classes." We have all been inundated with queries from people who are very worried about this. We have no clarity and no information as to who is going to be assessed. I have no issue with streamlining processes but people need to know there is a process and who will make the assessment. We must ensure children who need added supports get those supports and an appropriate place, whether in a special class, special school or with supports in a mainstream class. The Minister of State really needs to provide clarity. Educators and parents are very worried at the moment.
A huge body of work is ongoing between the Department and the NCSE on the provision of special class places right across the country. There are no definitive decisions made. A number of decisions will be made this week and into the new year as to where those special classes will be made available. When they become available, the NCSE will liaise directly with families.
I take Deputy Ward's point about the parents he mentioned not knowing if their child has a place. We brought in the deadline of 1 October to give families clarity earlier in the school year for next year. The deadline was 1 February last year. We brought it back by four months and we are now sanctioning classes before Christmas, which is the first time that has ever been done, and we will continue to do so. Families need just to wait to see what the review will show and then we will continue to work with them.
The announcement yesterday reflects a hugely important piece of work the Department and the NCSE have been engaged in for some time. We must have a very robust system in place in which families, educators and school communities can have faith in terms of who is making decisions and the clinical governance of those decisions. Work will be ongoing over the coming weeks and months to give clarity in that regard. I reassure teachers and school communities that the policy is not being developed on a wing and a prayer. We are developing this policy because it is best for students and school communities. We have a very cumbersome system at the moment. We want to do right by the children right across the country who have special educational needs. We are working extremely hard to bring serious clarity to the new process.
97. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on Oíche na hÓige; outline how she intends to build on the event through capital investment in youth facilities across the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70748/25]
View answerWill the Minister of State provide an update on Oíche na hÓige and outline how he intends to build on the event through capital investment in youth facilities across the State?
Arising from budget 2026, an additional €8 million in current and capital funding is being allocated to support the sustainability and development of youth services. This investment builds on recent increases. In 2025, €84.9 million was allocated for current and capital expenditure for the benefit of young people, which was an increase in funding of €7 million, or almost 9%, on the 2024 budget. Of this, €500,000 in capital funding was allocated to strengthen youth service infrastructure. Over the period from 2021 to 2025, the level of current Exchequer funding for youth services and programmes will have increased by more than 34%.
The 2026 allocation will further strengthen the foundation for inclusive, high-quality provision by ensuring continuity, expanding reach and enabling services to respond to the evolving needs of Ireland's diverse youth population. It will also allow us to deliver on the ambitions in the Opportunities for Youth strategy, which provides a platform for an effective, data-driven and joined-up approach to the delivery of youth work and related services. Further details on the 2026 allocations for the Department will be available after the 2026 Revised Estimates Volume, REV, process is complete.
Oíche na hÓige, a pilot initiative of the Department of Education and Youth, took place on Friday, 21 November 2025 and saw youth clubs and projects around the country open their doors to the wider community. Participants used the opportunity to showcase their diverse youth services and facilities and the value of youth work in their community. The main purpose of the initiative was to celebrate and build community awareness of youth work services and youth clubs. It aimed to show the value youth work can bring to young people and to create opportunities for the further integration of youth clubs into their communities. I was delighted to see more than 400 youth clubs across the country participating in the initiative.
Oíche na hÓige was a success. In my constituency of Meath East, I attended open nights held by Ratoath Foróige and 5th Meath Kells Scouts.
They do such good and important work in the community. In both of those projects, like so many, it is about youth leadership, with young people leading. Is it planned that Oíche na hÓige will be an annual event? Has that decision been made or is it under consideration? It is something I would support.
Are there plans to increase places for young people in youth work services? It is one thing to raise awareness and show people the good work being done but there are capacity issues in practically all these services because of a lack of investment over years.
It was a pilot event on 21 November. A number of short weeks later, the Department is currently evaluating the event. The Deputy is quite right and on the button that it was extremely successful. A lot of public representatives and community members attended the events and they were very successful. We are looking at how it can be improved. It has to be an annual event because of the benefit it brings to the communities. It also brings out our great resource, namely, young people. With Christmas fairs the length and breadth of the country in recent weekends, many young people have engaged in those. Some people involved in youth organisations have brought the expertise they developed in those organisations and the work they have done to the sales at the events. I have seen young people engaged in communities and it has been a success. We have to build upon it.
It needs to be matched with increased funding. I said to the Minister of State at committee that youth services are the poor relation within the Department and in government. The incredible work done in communities and the benefit for young people and the wider community are immeasurable. Maybe that is part of the difficulty. Investment is returned in spades. Please continue to invest in young people and youth services and increase that investment.
I want to ask about the implementation plan for the national strategy for youth work and related services 2024 to 2028. We are coming into 2026 and that plan has not been prepared. It is an indication of delay and a lack of prioritisation. Please focus on it, deliver on it and, importantly, engage with the stakeholders doing such great work in our communities.
We have seen an increase in funding in the section. Youth services have seen an increase of €8 million in current and capital funding. Looked at within the overall budget of the Department of education, it appears small, but it is dedicated funding and is being brought back into that Department. There was always a huge collaboration between the Department of Education and Youth and the youth section of the Department of children. It is in its right home.
We have to build the strategy into the coming years and it has to be clear. We have seen in communities in Ireland and across the world divergence and difference being exploited. It is hugely important that we have integration at youth club level and in organisations that benefit from funding from this Department. I see in organisations I work with the benefit all this brings. I take the Deputy's point but there is significant investment in it.
On the strategic development, I will report back to the Deputy.
99. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70576/25]
View answerDeputy Timmins is taking this question.
For Deputy Brennan, yes. There are four schools in Wicklow under Project Dargle: St. Kevin's Community College, Dunlavin; Coláiste Bhríde, Carnew; Arklow CBS; and Avondale Community College in Rathdrum. These schools are all in need of the proposed development. The areas they serve are growing in population. With the new, hugely increased housing targets for County Wicklow, these developments are needed more than ever. What is the current status of these builds?
Since 2020, the Department of education has invested over €6 billion in school projects throughout the country under the national development plan, involving the completion of over 1,300 school building projects. Over €159 million has been invested in schools across County Westmeath and €234 million in schools across County Wicklow in that period.
Project Dargle, the project bundle referred to by the Deputy, comprises seven post-primary schools in Westmeath and Wicklow devolved for delivery to the National Development Finance Agency, NDFA. These school building projects are flagship projects and will provide new, modernised, high-quality, permanent facilities catering for almost 6,000 students. This will transform the education infrastructure for these school communities now and in the decades ahead, enabling students to benefit from purpose-built facilities.
All seven schools are at stage 2b of the architectural design process. This is an important stage which allows for detailed design and planning, obtaining necessary statutory permissions and preparation of tender documents. Stage 2b is being finalised at the moment. The length of time a project takes to go through each stage varies depending on a number of factors, including scale and complexity.
In July, the Government announced a capital allocation of €7.55 billion for the Department of Education and Youth for the period 2026 to 2030 under the national development plan. As part of this allocation, the 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 the project's roll-out, the approach will be to continue to maximise the capacity of the existing school estate in the first instance and to provide necessary additional capacity through a targeted and prioritised project roll-out over the course of the 2026 to 2030 period to meet the most urgent and prioritised needs.
The Department will continue to provide guidance and practical support as required. The NDFA will engage directly with school authorities to keep them fully informed.
With the Minister of State's indulgence, I will go through each of the four schools.
First is St. Kevin's Community College, Dunlavin. Demand for places continues to grow. Planning has been in place for over two years. Dunlavin and its hinterland population continue to grow and the school serves east Kildare as well as west Wicklow. There is a plan for four rooms for special classes. The lack of suitable rooms in the current build means students' options are limited. The library is now a classroom. Computer rooms have been converted to general classrooms.
Second is Avondale Community College in Rathdrum. The new school campus will see capacity at the secondary school increase from 660 to 1,000 students. The school is far over capacity. Many rooms and spaces are no longer fit for purpose but the school cannot invest in upgrades or fixes to classrooms, practical rooms and laboratories. This is completely stalled. They are waiting on the new build.
I thank the Deputy for his ongoing interest in these projects across Wicklow. Wicklow is one of the major challenges we have in terms of school capacity each year. At post-primary level, there is always a challenge. The projects are at stage 2b, with full planning permission granted. I have had a number of conversations with Deputies this morning about projects where planning permission is awaited but in these cases it has been granted.
I take the points the Deputy made about capacity issues in Dunlavin, Rathdrum and across Wicklow. It is great to see there will be four additional special classrooms in St. Kevin's Community College. This is what we need for an integrated policy. It is at stage 2b and is being finalised at the moment. I will ensure the Department and everybody concerned works closely to finalise it as fast as possible.
Coláiste Bhríde, Carnew, is a special case. It seeks inclusion of a playing pitch with the building project. The new school will have a capacity for 1,000 students but there is no playing pitch included.
The school currently has the land required and planning permission but the key issue is the cost of levelling the site. It put a proposal to the NDFA for pitch groundworks, which was rejected, but it still hopes the Department will reconsider. The current building at Arklow CBS is simply unfit for purpose.
There is a project, for which we have been promised a sod-turning next May, in Blessington Community College in west Wicklow. That project has been put back on a number of occasions. The school is currently full of prefabs. It desperately needs a school building in what is a massively growing town just 19 miles from where we sit today. I ask that this project move to final tender stage and a contractor be appointed as soon as possible.
We know there is a particular issue in relation to planning for school builds. There is a lack of flexibility in the system and there needs to be a greater level of agility. I brought this issue up previously with regard to Ardee Educate Together National School. It is a national school and a great build but the problem is there are 21 parking spaces and double that number are needed. There are only two set-down places for minibuses for children with disabilities who are brought to the school and there is a need for five. There is a lot of space to do this but building is about to continue, which means that when the situation is eventually resolved, it will be a lot more costly. Engagement is needed between Louth County Council, the design team, contractors and the Department. If an official could come back to me with a response, we could get a solution for the school.
I would appreciate if Deputy Ó Murchú could pass me the roll number of the school. We will then take up the matter and I will see what we can do with it.
On the school in Blessington, I do not have the details to hand but we will come back to Deputy Timmins on it. I take his point in relation to the sod-turning and so forth. There is nothing more frustrating than commitments being given and deadlines being passed.
On the schools in Carnew and Arklow, these are parts of projects that have been delivered under the NDFA. With regard to the level of commitment by the Department to move these projects on under a new system, this will be very informative for the Department into the future.
Deputy Timmins asked about the project in Carnew. I will come back to him on that. The Department does not have a bottomless pot of money. There is a lot of pressure on the system, particularly in Wicklow, with regard to school places. I will endeavour to get a more detailed response for the Deputy on the issues he raised. Suffice to say, these projects are bundled together and we are committed to working through them.
100. D'fhiafraigh Deputy John Connolly den Minister for Education and Youth cmaidir le Tionscadal na Scoileanna Beaga, cad iad na pleananna atá ag a Roinn chun cur le líon na gcnuasach scoile atá ann agus chun stádas buan a thabhairt don tionscadal; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [69894/25]
View answerMo cheist ná chun a fhiafraí den Aire Oideachais agus Óige maidir le tionscadal na scoileanna beaga. Cad iad na pleananna atá sa Roinn chun cur le líon na scoileanna atá sa scéim faoi láthair agus chun stádas buan a thabhairt don tionscadal?
This question relates to the small schools project. The Minister will be aware that her predecessor, the Minister, Deputy Foley, started a pilot project for clustering small schools in support of the schools and easing the administrative burden on the principals of those schools. She deserves great credit for that initiative. I would like to see the project put on a firm footing into the future.
The programme for Government provides for a number of measures to support small schools, including the introduction of new national small school projects and training in new administrative supports. The Government is very aware that small schools are an important part of local communities and glue a community together, not just for the students and the school community but for generations to come as well.
The current small schools action plan research, established in 2021, is due to conclude at the end of the next school year. The current small schools project is being implemented on a pilot basis to support collaboration and sharing of resources among small schools in rural areas. It also enables them to collaborate, identify common challenges and trial innovative solutions.
Between them, the six clusters of small schools - two in Galway and one each in Donegal, Kerry, Wicklow and Waterford, respectively - consist of five schools per cluster. The feedback from the schools has been extremely positive. This is reflected in the interim evaluation report published by the Department. The independent review identifies potential areas for closer collaboration and an analysis of the scalability of actions already undertaken. As the project proceeds, a further evalution will take place.
Learning from the crucial evaluation of this project will be invaluable and will form a strong basis to inform future policy directions in relation to all small schools, including how the programme for Government can be delivered.
The Minister of State has noted many of the positive elements of this scheme and how the schools, in the evaluation undertaken by the Department, reflected positively on it. As he said, there were two such clusters in County Galway, one in Gort agus ceann i gceantar Iorras Aithneach i gConamara. Bhí trí scoil sa scéim sin: Scoil na hAirde Móire, Scoil Mhuighnis agus Scoil an Aird Thiar. Other communities that have seen the benefit of the clustering project have contacted me pointing out that there are a number of similar small schools in their community and asking if the scheme can be expanded to include a new cluster in their community. That is a very fair call. The Minister of State noted that the administrative burden is reduced, the school staff get additional training and there is shared learning among the teachers and pupils. I request that this measure be extended and made permanent.
The importance of this project is that it will inform policy into the future in regard to small schools. In the first instance, I acknowledge the huge work that small schools do in every county in Ireland and in some city locations as well, due to having different demographics. These clusters are to understand the challenges small schools have. The Deputy is right that more schools are looking to get into the pilot scheme as fast as possible because they see the benefits of it. The evaluation of the pilot project will inform policy into the future in relation to schools. It is important that we understand them. Over the years, I have seen that, because of different dynamics or work practices, schools that were once struggling for numbers are now bursting at the seams and additional teachers are coming in. These small schools are hugely important for Ireland Inc. and the benefits of this project will inform policy.
One of the most positive attributes of this scheme, with which I have some experience, is that it enabled principals who also have responsibility for teaching a class or multiple classes to do two important things. The first was to cluster their release days, so that when the principal is on a release day for administrative duties in the school, the same substitute teacher is there every day. This provided great consistency and continuity for the school and pupils. The person covering the release days did so in every cluster, meaning that the release days almost gave rise to a full-time position. That was one benefit of the scheme.
In the review the Minister of State mentioned, two concluding remarks indicate that the scheme should form part of future policy, hopefully in the near future because, as the Minister of State said, it is included in the programme for Government. One concluding remark was that no one project can overcome the challenges faced by small schools in rural areas but this scheme is a small step in the right direction. That is accurate. The second comes directly from the cluster in Gort, where a cluster administrative officer was appointed. Everyone agreed that this should be expanded to all small schools.
The project is a step in the right direction. The previous Minister in the Department, the Minister, Deputy Norma Foley, moved the initiative on. It is a clear indication of the importance of small schools in communities. We have visited a number of schools over the past eight or nine months. Some city schools are small too, for different reasons.
On having an administrator within the cluster, there is huge collaboration within the schools that are part of the cluster. They can benefit from co-operation, not just in regard to teaching but also in understanding the challenges. We are very committed to evaluating the project and understanding how we can best support schools in the future. For principals who have multiple classes in small schools, having administrative days and a guarantee that the same teacher will come in every week are also hugely important.
101. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware of the ongoing challenges regarding a school (details supplied) accessing a sports capital grant due to concerns of the archdiocese relating to financial costs incurred by primary schools when undertaking such a grant, if her departmental officials would be asked to mediate between the two parties in order to achieve a resolution that would provide a sports amenity for a socio-economically deprived area and if she will provide clarity to both parties. [70411/25]
View answerThis question concerns St. Thomas National School in Jobstown. I do not know if the Minister of State is aware of the challenges it is facing. There are a lot of moving parts. The latest challenge is coming from the archdiocese in looking for clarification on an undertaking from the Department about it. It relates to Jobstown Celtic Football Club at St. Thomas National School and the building of a astro pitch. The money is sitting there in an account but we cannot get agreement from the archdiocese, which is looking for clarification from the Department.
The school campus referred to by the Deputy comprises a junior school and a senior school. The junior school has a major project with the Department for a new school building on the existing site, which is currently at construction stage. This project will provide modern facilities for the school community, including provision for children with special educational needs. As part of this project substantial external play facilities such as three ball courts, two junior play areas, one secure hard and soft play area and one sensory garden are being provided.
My Department understands that there are ongoing discussions between the board of management, the patron and the trustees of the school regarding an application for a sports capital grant for an astro pitch facility. The trustees have direct responsibility for property matters at the schools.
The Department supports and encourages the use of school buildings and school sports facilities outside of school hours for community and recreational purposes where feasible, including childcare and after school uses. Over the past number of years, we developed a project that was one of the first where schools collaborated with the Department of sport in terms of building facilities. It was one of the first projects because we were refused a number of times before we designed it in Charleville in County Cork. It involved a facility between the sporting organisation and the school that would be open for the school during school time and open for the community afterwards. That is the right thing to do.
I understand that there are ongoing issues regarding the patron and trustees. Unfortunately, I do not have the imprimatur to make a decision on this. I would appreciate if the Deputy could give me any correspondence between the trustees and the Department and I can see whether there is any guidance we can give or whether guidance has been sought from the Department. Our experience regarding a number of projects involves the challenge of getting the required documents to the Department before draw down.
Additional information not given on the floor of the House.
A set of revised procedures on the use of school buildings and school sports facilities outside of school hours was published in June 2024. The purpose of these procedures is to provide assistance to schools that wish to make their school buildings and school sports facilities available to community or sporting clubs or organisations outside of school hours. The procedures outline the various scenarios and informs where consent of the Department of Education and Youth is required. These procedures are an important resource for schools and their trustees, including in considering sports capital grant applications or other arrangements with community groups. The procedures have been brought to the attention of the trustee of the school in question.
There are a lot of moving parts with regard to this. Everyone is in favour of it - the club, the school, the community, South Dublin County Council and political representatives. The challenge is that the archdiocese wants to know who will pay for the opening and closing of the premises after the school uses the facility and who will pay for insurance and cleaning. The club is going to do all that. I can get an affidavit. The archdiocese is saying the capitation grant does not cover it so it is looking for clarification from the Department regarding the archdiocese's demand for an increase in the capitation grant. Some of the things it is looking for are outside the scope of it. The ball is back in the court of the Department. The archdiocese is saying that it might look at it at a later stage and that when a sports capital grant is established to cover the running costs of the project, this proposal can be revisited. What it is looking for is madness. At the end of the day, common sense should apply. It is an area of high deprivation and this decision will hugely affect the children. An astro pitch is already there but it is safer to play on the road than it is on the actual pitch, given the state it is in. I am really frustrated about this.
I fully support Deputy Crowe on this. A solution has to be found. The Department has a role to play here, as have the school, the patron body and the religious authorities, but a solution must be found.
I accept the genuine frustration of the Deputies on this. The Department of Education and Youth is very committed. Many facilities paid for by the State and built up over the years close on Friday evening and do not open again until Monday morning. We do want to make sure every facility, be it in Jobstown or anywhere else, is used. I have considerable experience as a public representative over a number of years in trying to unwind the challenges faced by local communities. Forgive me if I do not have the exact details because it is not in my Department but if I can help, I will. A sports capital grant has been secured. The community is engaging to get approval to draw down the funding. The archdiocese or the patron body is looking for clarifications that are not available for the club to give. It is important that we look clinically at this. If the Deputy can give me those details, I will follow up on them. If our Department has a role to play, I will certainly look at it as a matter of urgency. It is important that we break down barriers because this is a model of funding that is available to communities.
It is a huge advantage to the area, the pupils in the school and the wider community. It is something that can be resolved. If an affidavit from the club stating that it would cover all the costs was given, that might be enough. The capitation grant is a problem but I might talk to the Minister of State afterwards. Perhaps we can put our heads together and, with the archdiocese, come up with a commonsense solution that will resolve this problem and provide an astro pitch for the kids in this area.
The capitation grant is specifically paid for costs relating to the running of the school, such as the cost of heating and lighting. We had debates earlier in the session regarding that. I do not think it should affect this issue. Is the archdiocese looking for some information? I find it difficult as well. We are dealing with a very protracted system across the patron bodies as well. I would have no difficulty in trying to bring clarity from our Department's point of view or maybe some advice I might have.
102. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Education and Youth when construction is expected to commence on approved school building projects (details supplied) in Galway East; if she will provide an update timeline for delivery of these projects; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70757/25]
View answerI submitted a question seeking an update on many building projects in Galway East such as Coláiste an Eachréidh, which is a fantastic Gael campus project; Kilcoona National School; St. Brigid's in Loughrea; Carrabane National School; Gort National School; and Gort Community School. If the Minister of State could provide me with an update on any of these projects, I would be grateful.
I thank the Deputy for his comprehensive list of school projects. I know that a significant amount of work is taking place. I compliment the Deputy on the work he does in engaging with schools because I believe public representatives should be constantly engaging with school communities. I thank him for his engagement on this and his engagement with us over the past number of months.
Since 2020, the Department has invested over €6 billion in school building projects under the national development plan involving the completion of over 1,300 school building projects. Over €227 million has been invested in schools across County Galway in this period, involving the completion of 79 school building projects.
The six building projects in Galway East referred to by the Deputy are part of the Department’s overall delivery pipeline. Three of the projects are additional school accommodation, ASA, projects devolved for delivery to the school authority or to Galway and Roscommon Education and Training Board. St. Brigid’s in Loughrea is at stage 2a while Kilcoona National School and Gort Community School are at stage 2b of the architectural design process.
The other three projects in Athenry and Carrabane and Gort National School are all large-scale capital projects and are at stage 3 tender action, evaluation and award stage. However, I am pleased to inform the Deputy that a letter of intent has recently issued to the successful contractor on the Gort National School project and it is expected that this project will progress to construction shortly.
In July, the Government announced a capital allocation of €7.55 billion for the Department of Education and Youth for the period 2026 to 2030 under the national development plan. In relation to project roll-out for large-scale projects and ASA 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 roll-out over the course of 2026 to 2030 period.
I thank the Minister of State for the update on those schools. For the people of Galway East, these projects are absolutely vital but I will focus on Carrabane National School. I know this has been raised with the Minister of State multiple times and that progress is taking place but the school is in an absolutely dire state at the moment. It needs that large-scale investment to build a brand-new school to bring it into the 21st century and ensure the children in that area are not left behind but receive the standard of education that is required in what is ultimately a safe and healthy environment. That is what is really important.
In relation to the expected commencing of the construction of school buildings, I am aware the Minister of State recently visited Lakeview School, which is an important school on the east side of Galway city. As he will know, unfortunately, it is only able to place five students for the 2026-2027 school year. There is a waiting list of 11 children who cannot be accommodated due to space constraints. The school has the physical space but what it needs is complete refurbishment, which will allow more children to be able to use that fantastic school. This is the school's third year looking for more appropriate classroom space. I know the Minister of State is aware of this project and has been to this school. Will he progress this to ensure more children in Galway city can be accommodated in Lakeview?
I thank both Deputies. Deputy Dolan has raised Carrabane National School continuously with me and the Department. We visited the school in Galway and I know the challenges that are there. It was remiss of me not to say that I am very much looking forward to working with our new Minister for education, Deputy Hildegarde Naughton. We have had many lengthy discussions on education over the past number of weeks. I really look forward to engagement with her and her understanding. She held the role I have now, so she will have a huge understanding of it.
I will certainly raise these issues. We visited Lakeview School and saw the challenges. Like many schools that we visit, we see the challenges that are there. We are there to meet them as best we can into the future. We will certainly come back to the Deputies on it.
