Maeve O'Connell
Question:392. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on a new school building project (details supplied). [70632/25]
View answerSchool Facilities
Questions (392)
Written answers
The major project referred to by the Deputy is being delivered under my Departments ADAPT Programme.
ADAPT is an acronym for "Accelerated Delivery of Architectural Planning and Tendering".
The ADAPT Programme uses a professional external Project Manager to co-ordinate and drive the Design Team to achieve the best possible timeframe during the stages of architectural planning.
The brief for this project is to deliver a new permanent 8 classroom Primary School with 2 classes for pupils with Special Educational Needs, at the schools current location in Mount Merrion.
The major project is currently at Stage 2(a) of Architectural Planning.
Stage 2(a) – Developed Design - is a crucial element of the architectural planning process as it is at this stage that the design is developed to a stage where it can be fully cost planned and prepared to lodge for statutory approvals.
The Design Team recently submitted a Stage 2a Report and my Department officials are currently carrying out their review of this report.
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.
Government departments are currently in the process of publishing their sectoral NDP Implementation Plans. The sectoral plan for the Education and Youth sector will be published next week and the first tranche of projects to progress to construction will be published in January. This NDP Implementation 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.
School Admissions
Questions (393)
Maeve O'Connell
Question:393. Deputy Maeve O'Connell asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on the work of her Department to ensure the provision of adequate school places for the Kilternan school planning area. [70631/25]
View answerWritten answers
The provision of school places is a priority for the Department of Education and Youth and there has been significant capital investment in schools in South County Dublin and North Wicklow to meet the needs of the local population. This includes new schools established in recent years in Stepaside, Cherrywood, Bray and Goatstown. This good forward planning is informed by demographic analysis, including information on planned residential development.
At primary level, enrolments at schools in the area have been declining since 2016. Nevertheless, there has been capital investment at schools in the area to support the establishment of special classes.
The Department’s databases show that there are fewer than 600 post primary school-going young people living in the Kilternan School Planning Area. These students are catered for at schools in neighbouring areas primarily in the Ballinteer-Stepaside and Goatstown-Stillorgan school planning areas. Some €134 million has been invested by my Department since 2020 in these three school planning areas alone. There is capacity in these and other adjacent areas at post-primary level and further post-primary school building projects are planned. This includes large scale capital projects to substantially increase capacity at Stepaside Educate Together Secondary to over 1000 pupils, the first phase of which has already been delivered. Additionally, projects are planned that will provide capacity for over 1,000 students at Goatstown Educate Together Secondary and for over 500 students at Gaelcholáiste Phiarsaigh.
It is acknowledged that even where there is capacity available, there can be enrolment pressures in an area due to duplicate applications, school of choice and other factors. The Department works closely with schools in areas of enrolment pressure to identify any requirement for additional provision and to put any required solutions in place.
The Department will continue to work to ensure that there is good school place provision for children and young people living in Kilternan.
Schools Building Projects
Questions (394)
Jen Cummins
Question:394. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on capital projects across schools in Dublin south central. [70887/25]
View answerWritten answers
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. Over €52m has been invested in school in Dublin South Central in that period. This investment has supported the completion of 12 school building projects. Currently 7 projects are in construction.
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.
The NDP Implementation Plan for the Education and Youth sector will be published next week and the first tranche of projects to progress to construction will be published in January.
The current status of all projects is set out on my department’s website at www.gov.ie. This is updated on a regular basis to reflect project progress through the various stages of capital appraisal, site acquisition, design, tender and construction.
School Admissions
Questions (395)
Jen Cummins
Question:395. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of children waiting for an appropriate school place. [70888/25]
View answerWritten answers
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is the statutory agency with responsibility for the provision of special education places.
The NCSE sanctioned 407 new special classes for the 2025/26 school year bringing to 3,742 the number of special classes in our schools.
Combined with 300 new special school places this brings to 2,700 the number of new school places for children with special educational needs. This additional capacity, together with the movement of children across existing classes, means that my department and NCSE has created more capacity than children made known to the NCSE through the Parent’s Notify process.
In addition, the NCSE has worked closely with families who came forward post the Parent’s Notify deadline in February to support them through a range of measures.
For the 2026/27 school year the NCSE is undertaking an analysis of the information provided through the Parents Notify process which closed on 1 October to plot demand for specialist places for the new school year.
The NCSE will have a clear picture of the local demand for special class places for the 2026/27 school year after they review and assess all of the information which has been provided through the parents' notification process. The NCSE report a very significant level of engagement and contact from families.
The NCSE advise that the majority of children and young people coming to them through the Parent’s Notify process are already enrolled in school and are being supported by existing special education teachers and special needs assistants.
My department and the NCSE are committed to ensuring that sufficient special education placements remain available for students with special educational needs and will continue to review and monitor the situation as to where new specialist provision is required.
An exercise conducted by the NCSE at the start of this school year confirmed a number of vacant special class places across the country.
School Curriculum
Questions (396)
Michael Murphy
Question:396. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department is engaging with counterparts in Northern Ireland on curriculum development, teacher exchanges or shared educational initiatives. [62805/25]
View answerWritten answers
My Department engages with our Education counterparts in Northern Ireland on a range of aspects of education policy and practice.
Under the North-South Ministerial Council Education Sectoral structure, a work programme has been agreed and is being implemented. This contains working groups as follows:
(a) Special Education Policy and Inclusion Working Group
(b) Educational Disadvantage Working Group
(c) Teacher Qualifications Working Group
(d) School, Youth & Teaching Exchanges Working Group
(e) Digital/Artificial Intelligence issues in schools and Education Working Group
(f) Early Years Education Working Group
(g) Cooperation under the Common Travel Area Education MOU Working Group
The work of these groups is monitored by the Ministers and is regularly reported on at bi-annual meetings between the Ministers.
There is cooperation under the PeacePlus Programme funded by both Departments and the EU, which includes work on shared learning in education and school and teacher exchanges.
Under the Shared Island Fund, cooperation on a North-South basis is being funded to address educational disadvantage through -
• The pilot programme, RAISE, which supports a whole of community approach to tackle educational disadvantage in Northern Ireland. There are policy and practical learnings for both Departments arising from this programme.
• The Teacher Research Exchange Project (T-REX) involves the linking of teachers’ evidence-based practice in the classroom with an on-line collaborative platform, enabling that effective research and practice to be shared between education professionals
• Creative Connections Programme enables training and Creative Connections in schools. This project enables teachers and artists in both jurisdictions to be trained together to work in teacher-artist partnerships in schools.
In addition, both Departments engage on policy matters, including sharing experience and practical knowledge.
Schools Complaints Procedures
Questions (397, 398, 399)
Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin
Question:397. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason no enquiry was carried out following allegations of sexual harassment occurring in the case of a child (details supplied) as recommended by the Ombudsman; the reason no questions were asked on behalf of the family when the then Minister was present at the school after the information was disclosed to her; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68415/25]
View answerFionntán Ó Súilleabháin
Question:398. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware that a former school principal (details supplied) was made aware of an investigation following seven reports of harassment in 2022; the reason this information was not disclosed to the family; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68416/25]
View answerFionntán Ó Súilleabháin
Question:399. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she was aware that in 2019 the KWETB held an investigation into complaints received by family (details supplied) regarding claims of alleged sexual harassment occurring in a school; the reason the family who submitted the complaints were not invited to participate in the investigation; the reason the family who submitted the complaints were not informed of the investigations findings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68417/25]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 397, 398 and 399 together.
Any concern or allegation of a child protection nature received by staff in the Department of Education and Youth is dealt with in accordance with the Department’s Procedures for responding to Child Protection Concerns which come to the attention of staff employed by the Department.
Under these procedures, the Department does not make any judgement on the concerns which come to its attention and ensures that the details of the concern are immediately passed on to the relevant authorities, that is Tusla - the Child and Family Agency, and An Garda Síochána. The school authority is also informed of the alleged concern received. Tusla has statutory responsibility to assess all reports of child welfare and protection concerns. Tusla assesses the information received regarding the child’s situation and provides appropriate social work intervention and family support services. The role of An Garda Síochána is to investigate alleged crimes. Where it is suspected that a crime has been committed, An Garda Síochána has overall responsibility for the direction of any criminal investigation. It is the function of An Garda Síochána to interview and take any statements that will form part of the criminal investigation file.
In June 2021 my department issued correspondence to the complainant outlining how the allegations would be dealt with, in accordance with the Department's procedures. Those procedures were adhered to and Tusla, An Garda Síochána and the relevant school authority were informed of the concern raised. The advice from the Ombudsman for Children, that the matter be investigated, is in keeping with the actions taken by the department.
Question No. 398 answered with Question No. 397.
Question No. 399 answered with Question No. 397.
Departmental Projects
Questions (400)
Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin
Question:400. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Education and Youth the details of the reasons for the delay with building works for (details supplied) a project that was authorised by her Department to proceed to the tender stage in November 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68618/25]
View answerWritten answers
The project to which the Deputy refers is part of a school campus project at Kilbride, Co. Wicklow. It has been devolved for delivery to Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB).
The brief for Gaelcholáiste Na Mara is to provide a new post primary school to accommodate a long-term projected enrolment of at least 400 pupils including 2 classrooms for students with special educational needs.
The brief for Gaelscoil an Inbhir Mhóir provides for the construction of a new 16 classroom primary school including 2 classrooms for pupils with special educational needs within this new Education Campus on a greenfield site in Arklow.
I am delighted to inform the Deputy that approval was granted to KWETB to issue a Letter of Acceptance. The project is expected to progress to construction in the very near future.
The Department remains committed to providing ongoing guidance and practical support as required. KWETB as the delivery body will continue to engage directly with the school authority to keep it fully informed of all progress.
Youth Services
Questions (401)
Tony McCormack
Question:401. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Education and Youth the steps she is taking to support youth facilities and youth-led community initiatives in rural parts of Offaly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68168/25]
View answerWritten answers
I am committed to supporting the delivery and development of youth services and youth-led community initiatives in Offaly, ensuring that both rural and urban communities benefit from these investments. Such services are central to fostering inclusion, participation, and leadership among young people. To achieve this, the department channels youth funding through the 16 Education and Training Boards (ETBs), which administer resources on our behalf. Funding is allocated annually to each ETB for youth services across their functional areas, rather than on a county-by-county basis. In this way, services in Offaly are supported through the allocations made to Laois and Offaly ETB (LOETB).
The department has made a significant investment in youth services in the LOETB area, with total funding rising from over €467,000 in 2020 to more than €890,000 in 2025. This represents an increase of over 91%, reflecting the Government’s commitment to strengthening youth provision and ensuring that young people in both rural and urban communities have access to quality supports and facilities.
The UBU Your Place Your Space scheme provides targeted youth funding to young people aged between 10 and 24 years who are identified as marginalised, vulnerable, or at risk of not flourishing. Through the ETBs, UBU supports a wide range of youth services across the country, ensuring that resources are directed to where they are most needed.
In 2025, over €460,000 was allocated to LOETB under the UBU scheme. This funding supports a number of local youth organisations, including those working with young people in Offaly. In addition, a further €20,000 was provided to LOETB under the Resilience and Effectiveness Scheme to strengthen the capacity of UBU-funded organisations in the ETB area and to enable them to respond to emerging needs.
Budget 2025 also provided an additional €1.2 million nationally for the establishment of ten new UBU services, each designed to deliver youth worker-led supports to young people in areas of greatest need. LOETB submitted a proposal for a new service in County Laois, and following a competitive assessment process, I am pleased to say that funding was awarded for a new rural UBU service – UBU Laois Connect – which will operate across Mountmellick, Mountrath, Rathdowney and surrounding areas.
Alongside this, the department has worked with the Child Poverty and Wellbeing Office in the Department of the Taoiseach to pilot a Summer 2025 Holiday Meals Programme. This initiative was designed to address holiday hunger among young people engaged with UBU services during the school summer break. Forty-one youth services nationwide participated, including the Offaly Traveller Movement, which provided hot meals to young people at risk of not having access to a substantial meal during the holiday period, with a budget of over €22,000. An external evaluation of the pilot has been commissioned by Education and Training Boards Ireland and is currently under review by department officials.
The Targeted Youth Employability Support Initiative (TYESI) is designed to engage and support young people aged 15–24 who are not in education, employment or training, and who may face barriers to participation. The initiative provides tailored, youth worker-led interventions to build confidence, develop skills, and improve employability prospects. In 2025, funding of €60,000 was allocated to the Offaly Traveller Movement to deliver TYESI supports in the Birr and Tullamore areas. This investment enables young people from marginalised communities to access structured programmes locally, while also strengthening pathways into further education, training, and employment opportunities.
The Local Youth Club Grant Scheme (LYCGS) provides essential support to volunteer-led youth clubs across the country, enabling young people to participate in safe, inclusive activities within their own communities. In LOETB, funding under the scheme has increased from €82,544 in 2024 to €99,191 in 2025, representing a rise of 20.17%. This enhanced investment helps ensure that young people can continue to access youth clubs locally, while also supporting the retention and training of volunteer youth leaders who play a vital role in running these clubs. In 2024, over 1,200 young people took part in clubs in their communities across the LOETB area, supported by more than 300 youth leaders. Through the LYCGS, the department is committed to sustaining grassroots youth work and strengthening opportunities for young people in rural communities such as Offaly.
The newly launched Youth Night initiative took place on 21 November this year, providing an opportunity for young people and their communities to come together and celebrate youth work. The initiative was supported by funding of €22,000 to LOETB, enabling numerous youth clubs and services across the ETB area to open their doors to the public on the night. This event showcased the vibrancy of local youth services, highlighted the role of youth leaders, and encouraged wider community engagement with youth facilities.
Finally, I am pleased to announce that, arising from Budget 2026, an additional €8 million in current and capital funding has been allocated to support the sustainability and development of youth services. This investment strengthens the foundation for inclusive, high-quality provision — ensuring continuity, expanding reach, and enabling services to respond to the evolving needs of Ireland’s diverse youth population. Importantly, this includes young people in rural parts of County Offaly, where youth services and youth-led community initiatives play a vital role in fostering participation, leadership, and social inclusion.
The department remains committed to supporting youth work at both national and local levels, recognising the importance of community-based engagement in both rural and urban areas. The increased funding will enable universal and targeted youth services to continue delivering tailored supports and safe, welcoming spaces for young people in Offaly and across the country.
Social Media
Questions (402)
Eoghan Kenny
Question:402. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department, and agencies under the Department’s remit, purchase data on the habits and activities of social media users and other platforms; if so, the reasons for purchasing such data; the amount spent in 2024 and 2025 year to date on such expenditure, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70862/25]
View answerWritten answers
The Department of Education and Youth, and the agencies it oversees, do not buy data on the habits and activities of social media users and other platforms.
Schools Building Projects
Questions (403)
Robert Troy
Question:403. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding a school building project (details supplied), and when construction works will commence. [70896/25]
View answerWritten answers
The project to which the deputy refers has been devolved to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) for delivery as part of a programme of school building projects.
The brief for this project comprises of the development of a new build Post Primary school to accommodate a long-term projected enrolment of 1,000 pupils and will include a 6 classroom SEN base.
The project is currently at Stage 3 of the architectural design process – Tender Stage. The length of time a project takes to go through each stage varies and depends on a number of factors, including scale and complexity. The NDFA will be engaging directly with the school authority to keep it informed of progress.
My Department is committed to ensuring appropriate school accommodation is available for all children in Franciscan College and will in the wider context outlined, ensure that this project - as for all projects on the school building programme - is 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.
Government departments are currently in the process of publishing their sectoral NDP Implementation Plans. The sectoral plan for the Education and Youth sector will be published next week and the first tranche of projects to progress to construction will be published in January. This NDP Implementation 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 current status of all projects is listed on a county-by-county basis at www.gov.ie. under item number 10 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.
School Facilities
Questions (404)
Brian Stanley
Question:404. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education and Youth if a sports hall will be provided for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70917/25]
View answerWritten answers
I can confirm to the Deputy, that the Department recognises the limitations that a lack of indoor PE facilities places on the delivery of the PE curricula. However, it is important to note that almost 95% of the post primary schools, and over 70% of the primary schools that made 2020 Annual Schools Returns have indicated to the department that they either have a PE Hall, access to a nearby PE Hall, or a project in train that will deliver a new PE Hall. Practically all schools have outdoor play areas and many schools use adjacent local facilities, including community halls, public parks, playing fields and swimming pools.
Investment and expenditure on PE Halls is an element of the overall School Building Programme. The provision of GP rooms and PE Halls, at primary and post primary level respectively, and outdoor hard play areas, form part of the accommodation brief for all new school buildings. This is also the case where a major building or refurbishment project is being delivered for an existing school.
The main focus of the Department’s capital funding over the last decade and for the coming period is on provision of critical additional capacity to cater for increasing demographics and children with special education needs.
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.
Government departments are currently in the process of publishing their sectoral NDP Implementation Plans. The sectoral plan for the Education and Youth sector will be published next week and the first tranche of projects to progress to construction will be published in January. This NDP Implementation 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.
School Facilities
Questions (405)
Holly Cairns
Question:405. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education and Youth the detailed timeline for the provision of school buildings for a school (details supplied). [70924/25]
View answerWritten answers
The project to which the Deputy refers is devolved for delivery to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) as part of a programme of school building projects.
The project brief provides for the development of a New 12 Classroom Primary School with a 2 class Special Education Needs (SEN) base.
The project is currently at Stage 2b of the architectural process (post planning permission), which allows for detailed design/planning, obtaining the necessary statutory permissions and the preparation of tender documents.
The length of time a project takes to go through each stage varies and depends on a number of factors, including scale and complexity. At this early stage it is not possible to provide a timeline for completion of this project.
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.
Government Departments are currently in the process of publishing their sectoral NDP Implementation Plans. The sectoral plan for the Education and Youth sector will be published next week and the first tranche of projects to progress to construction will be published in January. This NDP Implementation 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.
School Facilities
Questions (406)
Séamus McGrath
Question:406. Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 993 of 8 September 2025, the position regarding the proposed building works at a school (details supplied). [70978/25]
View answerWritten answers
The school referred to by the Deputy was approved under the Additional School Accommodation Scheme to provide 1 mainstream classroom and a 2 classroom SEN base. The project is devolved to the school authority for delivery.
The project remains under careful review at Stage 2b due to the importance of compliance with costs under the public spending code. My Department will revert to the school as soon as this review is complete.
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.
Government departments are currently in the process of publishing their sectoral NDP Implementation Plans. The sectoral plan for the Education and Youth sector will be published next week and the first tranche of projects to progress to construction will be published in January. This NDP Implementation 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.
Schools Building Projects
Questions (407)
Roderic O'Gorman
Question:407. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on plans to demolish and rebuild schools (details supplied); in particular, the reason the stage 2A review has been delayed; when will it be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71018/25]
View answerWritten answers
The joint major building project for the schools referred to by the deputy are currently at Stage 2(a) of Architectural Planning - Developed Design - which is a crucial element of the architectural planning process as it is at this stage that the design is developed to a stage where it can be fully cost planned and prepared to lodge for statutory approvals.
Upon receipt of the revised Stage 2(a) Report my Department officials carried out an initial review and arranged an architectural workshop with the Design Team Lead in May 2025 to discuss further.
In early June 2025 a further meeting was held with the wider Design Team, school authorities and Department officials in attendance. At that meeting the school were provided with a progress update and advised that the Design Team are due to submit an Addendum S2a Report to my Department in late June.
The outstanding information for the Addendum Stage 2a Report for the joint major building project was received in my Department on 31st October 2025.
Department officials will carry out a full review of the Addendum Report however, it is not possible, at present, to provide a timeframe for the completion of that review.
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.
Government departments are currently in the process of publishing their sectoral NDP Implementation Plans. The sectoral plan for the Education and Youth sector will be published next week and the first tranche of projects to progress to construction will be published in January. This NDP Implementation 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.
Schools Building Projects
Questions (408, 409, 410)
John Connolly
Question:408. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of new school development projects in County Galway currently at pre-stage 1 of the development process; the date each project commenced, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71024/25]
View answerJohn Connolly
Question:409. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of new school development projects in County Galway currently at stage 1 of the development process; the date each project entered stage 1, in tabular form;; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71025/25]
View answerJohn Connolly
Question:410. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of new school development projects in County Galway currently at stage 2A of the development process; the date each project entered stage 2A, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71026/25]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 408, 409 and 410 together.
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, over 200 SEN Repurposing projects have been delivered maximising the use of existing accommodation while creating opportunities for inclusion and integration.
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.
Government departments are currently in the process of publishing their sectoral NDP Implementation Plans. The sectoral plan for the Education and Youth sector will be published next week and the first tranche of projects to progress to construction will be published in January. This NDP Implementation Plan will optimise outputs from the NDP allocations, with a strong focus on maximising existing school capacity, progressing priority projects where local capacity across schools in the area is insufficient, and ensuring delivery that is affordable, offers value for money, and meets functional needs.
My department has invested over €234m in capital expenditure since 2020 in Galway. This investment has supported the completion of 82 school building projects including 3 new school buildings. Currently 22 projects are in construction, of which 1 is a new school building.
The current status of all projects is set out under item number ten at the following link (www.gov.ie). This is updated on a regular basis to reflect project progress through the various stages of capital appraisal, site acquisition, design, tender and construction.
Attached find a list of larges cale school building projects in County Galway at pre-stage 1, stage 1 and stage 2a. It should be noted that some projects may remain at a particular stage longer than anticipated due to a range of factors, including planning-related issues, challenges within the design process, and complex site conditions.
Question No. 409 answered with Question No. 408.
Question No. 410 answered with Question No. 408.
Schools Building Projects
Questions (411)
John Paul O'Shea
Question:411. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Youth the status of a capital project for a school (details supplied); the details of the works involved; the timeline for completion of the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71098/25]
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The school referred to by the Deputy was approved to enter the Department’s pipeline of school building projects to provide two Special Education Teaching (SET) rooms and one mainstream classroom. This project was devolved to the school authority for delivery and is now at practical completion.
The school has also been approved for funding under the ASA Scheme to construct a two classroom Special Educational Needs (SEN) base and one mainstream classroom. The project has undergone technical and cost reviews in line with the Public Infrastructure Guidelines. Officials have requested an addendum to the Stage 1a report for further assessment, which is still pending.
The length of time a project takes to deliver depends on several factors, including scale and complexity and is subject to the time it takes to progress through the various design stages, and the statutory approval process.