Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 February 2026
248. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding the removal of a school (details supplied) that had been part of the preliminary tender document of the NDP rollout; the reason for this removal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8993/26]
View answer249. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth if any appeal mechanism is available for a school (details supplied) that was omitted from the finalised NDP rollout, despite being included in the preliminary tender document; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8994/26]
View answer250. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding the permanent school project for (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8995/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 248, 249 and 250 together.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Department of Education and Youth has recently published the €7.55 billion NDP Sectoral Investment Plan for the Education and Youth Sectors for the period 2026 to 2030. This NDP Sectoral Plan involves a very strong emphasis on maximising existing capacity and prioritisation of school building projects to meet the most urgent needs. In this regard there will be a strong special education dimension to project rollout.
The first tranche of 105 school building projects includes 80 large scale and Additional School Accommodation scheme projects. These projects were prioritised with a strong focus on maximising existing capacity and prioritising project rollout to meet the most urgent needs particularly to support special education needs provision.
I recognise that there are schools with important building projects that are not included in the first tranche of prioritised projects.
As part of planning ahead for the next tranche of projects to progress to tender, the department-led prioritisation process will continue over the course of 2026 and 2027 to assess and evaluate the progression of individual projects through the design pipeline having regard to the continual need to maximise existing capacity and determine the prioritised needs going forward. This process will involve engagement with key stakeholders and will ultimately inform the next tranches of programme rollout to tender.
Any interim accommodation requirements will continue to be assessed and considered by the department on a case-by-case basis to determine the prioritised needs.
The accommodation needs for the school referred to by the Deputy will be considered as part of ongoing overall department-led prioritisation process, in consultation with the school’s patron and school authorities.
