Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 December 2025
219. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on all new school building projects in Longford and Westmeath, including those at planning, design, tender and construction stages.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72633/25]
View answer220. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the expected delivery timelines for new primary and post-primary schools in Mullingar, Athlone, Longford town and surrounding areas. [72634/25]
View answer222. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of new school building or major extension projects in Longford and Westmeath included in the 2026 capital programme. [72636/25]
View answer229. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if funding will be fast-tracked for additional classrooms or ASD provision in growing primary schools in Longford and Westmeath. [72643/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 219, 220, 222 and 229 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 shortly and the first tranche of projects to progress to construction will be published in January 2026.
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. A key focus of this investment is the delivery of integrated and inclusive provision for children with additional needs, through the development of new special schools, the expansion of special class provision, and the enhancement of existing facilities.
My department has invested over €41m in capital expenditure since 2020 in County Longford. This investment has supported the completion of 15 school building projects. Currently 2 projects are in construction.
My department has invested over €167m in capital expenditure since 2020 in County Westmeath. This investment has supported the completion of 31 school building projects including 3 new school buildings. Currently 9 projects are in construction.
Project timeframes vary considerably in large capital programmes for many reasons, including factors beyond my department’s control, such as the time taken to secure a site or securing relevant statutory permissions including planning consent. The Department also must manage the rollout of projects within the parameters of its NDP funding. Delivery of school building projects are managed as effectively as possible, prioritising the most urgent projects where capacity is already fully utilised, and deploying modular accommodation where additional space is needed in the short term.
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.
