Micheál Carrigy
Question:166. Deputy Micheál Carrigy asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the progress on the project at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10860/26]
View answerSchool Management
Questions (166)
Written answers
The school to which the deputy refers was approved to enter my Department’s pipeline of school buildings under the Additional School Accommodation Scheme for the provision of two classrooms, two special education tuition (SET) rooms, two science labs and a prep area, one graphics room, one home economics room, one engineering room, one engineering prep room and store room, two classroom SEN bases, along with ancillary accommodation. The project has been devolved for delivery to the school authority.
My Department has received a revised stage 1 (preliminary design) report which is currently being reviewed from both a technical and cost perspective in accordance with the requirements of the Public Spending Code. All projects, including this one, will undergo the necessary due diligence outlined in the Public Infrastructure Guidelines. Managing timing, scope, and cost is crucial to staying within budgetary limits for the overall program.
As the Deputy will be aware, I have 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.
Of the total €7.55 billion investment it is envisaged that circa. €5 billion will be used for project rollout to support the delivery and modernisation of school buildings across the Large Scale, Additional Accommodation, Modular, and Annual September Accommodation Needs programmes. Over the course of 2026 and 2027 there will be construction work at circa. 10% of the school estate. These projects will, when completed, provide circa 57,000 additional and modernised school places with a strong SEN focus in all projects.
My department will continue to build on the progress made over recent years with the continued rollout of projects on a prioritised basis to meet the most urgent needs in terms of provision of additional capacity and modernisation of existing facilities. In this regard, I have also published a list of the 105 school building projects in the first tranche to proceed to construction or tender over 2026 and 2027.
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.
Firstly, to facilitate the 45 projects that are currently already at tender stage (Stage 3) so that they can progress to construction as smoothly as possible over the course of 2026 and 2027. Secondly, to facilitate 35 projects that currently have planning permission and are at pre-tender stage (Stage 2b) and have been prioritised to meet urgent requirements from a special needs perspective or to provide additional capacity to cater for demographics or to address very significant condition issues at the schools.
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 individual schools and will ultimately inform the next tranches of programme rollout to tender. The department-led Energy and Condition Survey of the school estate, which will be finalised later in 2026, will provide an additional evidence base for assessing priorities.
Based on this ongoing prioritisation process some projects may be added to the list over the course of 2026 and 2027 having regard to their prioritisation and urgency of need and taking account also of the ongoing ability to progress them to tender and construction within the parameters of overall funding. Where appropriate, the department will also assess opportunities to undertake advance enabling works for the most urgent and complex projects to facilitate a smooth progression to construction in 2028 and beyond.
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 and approach for addressing same.
The accommodation needs at this school will be considered as part of the ongoing overall department-led prioritisation process, in consultation with the school’s patron and school authorities.
School Management
Questions (167)
Micheál Carrigy
Question:167. Deputy Micheál Carrigy asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the progress on the project at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10861/26]
View answerWritten answers
The school referred to by the Deputy was approved to enter the departments pipeline of school buildings for a project to provide 1 General Classroom, 1 Music room, 1 Graphics room, 1 Multimedia room, 1 Textiles room and 2 Classroom SEN base. The project has been devolved for delivery to Longford Westmeath Education and Training Board (LWETB).
The Stage 1 report was received and reviewed by my department and following a meeting in November 2024 with the design team, my department is now currently awaiting submission of an updated Stage 1 report. Once this report is received, it will be reviewed and my department will liaise with LWETB in relation to the outcome and next steps.
As the Deputy will be aware, I have 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.
Of the total €7.55 billion investment it is envisaged that circa. €5 billion will be used for project rollout to support the delivery and modernisation of school buildings across the Large Scale, Additional Accommodation, Modular, and Annual September Accommodation Needs programmes. Over the course of 2026 and 2027 there will be construction work at circa. 10% of the school estate. These projects will, when completed, provide circa 57,000 additional and modernised school places with a strong SEN focus in all projects.
My department will continue to build on the progress made over recent years with the continued rollout of projects on a prioritised basis to meet the most urgent needs in terms of provision of additional capacity and modernisation of existing facilities. In this regard, I have also published a list of the 105 school building projects in the first tranche to proceed to construction or tender over 2026 and 2027.
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.
Firstly, to facilitate the 45 projects that are currently already at tender stage (Stage 3) so that they can progress to construction as smoothly as possible over the course of 2026 and 2027. Secondly, to facilitate 35 projects that currently have planning permission and are at pre-tender stage (Stage 2b) and have been prioritised to meet urgent requirements from a special needs perspective or to provide additional capacity to cater for demographics or to address very significant condition issues at the schools.
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 individual schools and will ultimately inform the next tranches of programme rollout to tender. The department-led Energy and Condition Survey of the school estate, which will be finalised later in 2026, will provide an additional evidence base for assessing priorities.
Based on this ongoing prioritisation process some projects may be added to the list over the course of 2026 and 2027 having regard to their prioritisation and urgency of need and taking account also of the ongoing ability to progress them to tender and construction within the parameters of overall funding. Where appropriate, the department will also assess opportunities to undertake advance enabling works for the most urgent and complex projects to facilitate a smooth progression to construction in 2028 and beyond.
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 and approach for addressing same.
The accommodation needs at this school will be considered as part of the ongoing overall department-led prioritisation process, in consultation with the school’s patron and school authorities.
School Management
Questions (168)
Micheál Carrigy
Question:168. Deputy Micheál Carrigy asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the progress on the project at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10862/26]
View answerWritten answers
The project to which the Deputy refers is an amalgamation of Meán Scoil Mhuire and St Mels College, which has been devolved for delivery to the Joint Managerial Board (JMB).
The proposed amalgamation of St.?Mel’s College and Meán Scoil Mhuire will provide for the establishment of a new post-primary school with a long-term projected enrolment of 1,200 students, together with 6 special education needs classrooms.
The project scope includes the construction of an extension to the existing school building, along with the refurbishment and reconfiguration of the current accommodation to meet the needs of the new school. The project is currently at Stage 1 of the architectural design process. The tendering process for the appointment of the Design Team is currently ongoing. JMB, as the delivery body will continue to engage directly with the school community to keep it fully informed of progress.
As the Deputy will be aware, the department have 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.
Of the total €7.55 billion investment it is envisaged that circa. €5 billion will be used for project rollout to support the delivery and modernisation of school buildings across the Large Scale, Additional Accommodation, Modular, and Annual September Accommodation Needs programmes. Over the course of 2026 and 2027 there will be construction work at circa. 10% of the school estate. These projects will, when completed, provide circa 57,000 additional and modernised school places with a strong SEN focus in all projects.
The department will continue to build on the progress made over recent years with the continued rollout of projects on a prioritised basis to meet the most urgent needs in terms of provision of additional capacity and modernisation of existing facilities. In this regard, I have also published a list of the 105 school building projects in the first tranche to proceed to construction or tender over 2026 and 2027.
These projects are in addition to €43.46 million in capital funding for Longford schools between 2020 and 2025. Over that period, a total of 15 Schools have been upgraded either through provision of a new school building, a large-scale extension or provision of modular accommodation. There are also currently 2 school projects in County Longford under construction.
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.
The department recognises 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 individual schools and will ultimately inform the next tranches of programme rollout to tender. The department-led Energy and Condition Survey of the school estate, which will be finalised later in 2026, will provide an additional evidence base for assessing priorities.
Based on this ongoing prioritisation process some projects may be added to the list over the course of 2026 and 2027 having regard to their prioritisation and urgency of need and taking account also of the ongoing ability to progress them to tender and construction within the parameters of overall funding. Where appropriate, the department will also assess opportunities to undertake advance enabling works for the most urgent and complex projects to facilitate a smooth progression to construction in 2028 and beyond.
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 and approach for addressing same.
The accommodation needs at the school referred to by the Deputy will be considered as part of the ongoing overall department-led prioritisation process, in consultation with the school’s patron and school authorities.
Special Educational Needs
Questions (169)
Peadar Tóibín
Question:169. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No’s 471, 472 and 473 of 4 February 2026, if her Department will commit to an audit of the actual figures of children currently waiting for a placement in each county per year (details supplied). [10886/26]
View answerWritten answers
This government is fully committed to supporting students with special educational needs to fulfil their full potential and the Programme for Government makes a number of commitments to deliver on this objective.
Almost 1,900 classes have been sanctioned by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) in the last five years, sixteen new special schools have been established and many more expanded. For the 2025/26 school year alone over 400 new special classes have been sanctioned bringing the total number of special classes nationwide to over 3,700. Five new special schools were established and capacity is being expanded in a number of other special schools.
This year, the approach taken was to maximise the use of existing accommodation in schools to ensure new special classes could open as quickly as possible for the 2025/26 school year. The NCSE also prioritised schools which did not have an existing special class. This has ensured that 80% of the new classes sanctioned are in schools with available accommodation.
For the 2025/26 school year the NCSE advise that a small number of special class places remain in many counties in the country for those still seeking placement. While these places may not be in a preferred school, vacancies do exist.
In order to support the NCSE and forward planning my department published Circular 0039/2025. This circular informs school management and patrons of measures introduced to support forward planning and reiterates the need for parents to inform the NCSE through the Parent Notify process that they are seeking a special educational placement for their child.
My department and the NCSE continue to work closely with school patron bodies, school management bodies and schools to confirm new special classes for the next school year 2026/2027. The NCSE began sanctioning new special classes last month, which is several months earlier than last year. 301 have been sanctioned to date and many more new special classes will be confirmed in the coming weeks. The earlier sanctioning of new classes provides clarity for parents and allows schools more time for the planning and establishment of new special classes. The vast majority of new special classes being announced are being provided in available school accommodation which is being reconfigured as a special class.
My department and the NCSE are committed to delivering an education system that is of the highest quality and where every child and young person feels valued and is actively supported and nurtured to reach their full potential.
Special Educational Needs
Questions (170)
Gillian Toole
Question:170. Deputy Gillian Toole asked the Minister for Education and Youth the interventions or supports that will be provided to children awaiting assessments for possible developmental delays; the unconfirmed requirement for a special class or school place, to support the children and their families; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10910/26]
View answerWritten answers
This government is fully committed to supporting students with special educational needs to fulfil their full potential and the Programme for Government makes a number of commitments to deliver on this objective.
The majority of students with special education needs in this country are supported by their classroom teachers, special education teachers and special needs assistants (SNAs) to attend mainstream classes with their peers. This is considered the most inclusive environment for students with special education needs and ensures that students can attend their local school. My department has significantly increased the resources available to support students with special educational needs in mainstream provision with 15,000 special education teachers and over 12,500 SNAs.
The Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) under the Department of Children, Disability and Equality, enables the full inclusion and meaningful participation of children with disabilities/additional needs in the Early Childhood Care & Education Scheme (ECCE) programme. Its goal is to create a more inclusive environment in pre-schools, so all children availing of preschool, regardless of ability, can benefit from quality early learning and care. There has been a significant increase in resources and supports provided to children with additional needs accessing the AIM programme over recent years.
It is important to note that a diagnosis is not required in order to access AIM supports and that while some children require additional supports at preschool level, many will transition into mainstream classes thereafter. This trend has also been noted as students’ progress from primary level to post-primary.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is the statutory body responsible for the provision of special education and allocating supports for children and young people with special educational needs. Where the NCSE identifies need for an early intervention class, the class is sanctioned and supports are provided by my department to ensure the school can accommodate the class. Generally, these classes are resourced at a 6:1 student/teacher ratio and two special needs assistants (SNAs) are allocated to each class.
Early intervention classes are available in mainstream and special school settings for children aged 3 -5 years old with a diagnosis of autism. There is also a small number dedicated to children who are deaf/hard of hearing. These classes are intended to provide early support to children before they start school and can aid their transition to junior infants.
In order to support the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) and forward planning my department published Circular 0039/2025. This circular informs school management and patrons of measures introduced to support forward planning and reiterates the need for parents to inform the NCSE through the Parent Notify process that they are seeking a special educational placement for their child.
The NCSE is undertaking analysis of information provided through the Parents Notify process which closed on 1 October to plot demand for special class places for the 2026/27 school year. The NCSE will also consider vacant places in existing special classes and places that will become available through the regular transition of children from primary to post-primary schools.
I would like to stress that the NCSE will continue to support all children and young people made known to them after 1 October. However, it is critical that the NCSE has as much local information as possible, as early as possible, to effectively plan what new provision is required.
The NCSE remains available to provide advice and support to all families seeking specialist placement and will continue to examine where provision is required for the 2026/27 school year.
My department and the NCSE are committed to delivering an education system that is of the highest quality and where every child and young person feels valued and is actively supported and nurtured to reach their full potential.
Schools Building Projects
Questions (171)
Malcolm Byrne
Question:171. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Youth based on the criteria she has published as the basis for the school construction projects announced in January 2026, the reason no school in the Wicklow-Wexford constituency was found to have met the criteria; and based on the ranking assessment that was indicated, to outline where all schools in the constituency currently seeking extensions or refurbishment are ranked. [10931/26]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy will be aware, I have 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.
Of the total €7.55 billion investment it is envisaged that circa. €5 billion will be used for project rollout to support the delivery and modernisation of school buildings across the Large Scale, Additional Accommodation, Modular, and Annual September Accommodation Needs programmes. Over the course of 2026 and 2027 there will be construction work at circa. 10% of the school estate. These projects will, when completed, provide circa 57,000 additional and modernised school places with a strong SEN focus in all projects.
My department will continue to build on the progress made over recent years with the continued rollout of projects on a prioritised basis to meet the most urgent needs in terms of provision of additional capacity and modernisation of existing facilities. The first tranche of 105 projects covers the initial two-year period of NDP rollout. This list includes 1 project in County Wexford and 3 projects in Wicklow.
These projects are in addition to €174.6 million in capital funding for County Wexford schools and €254.93 million in capital funding for County Wicklow schools between 2020 and 2025. Over that period, a total of 58 schools in County Wexford and 42 schools in County Wicklow have been upgraded either through provision of a new school building, a large-scale extension or provision of modular accommodation. There are also currently 7 school projects in County Wexford and 8 schools projects in County Wicklow under construction.
The criteria for identifying the first tranche of 105 prioritised projects to go to construction / tender in 2026 and 2027 included the condition of the school, projects in areas with capacity pressures, growing demographics and projects in the pipeline for a long time.
The 105 prioritised projects consist of 80 large-scale and ASA (additional school accommodation) projects along with 25 projects to be delivered under the Modular Accommodation Programme.
The 80 large-scale and ASA projects are estimated to cost just under €1.6bn.
Of the 80 projects,
• 45 projects that are already at tender stage (Stage 3)
• 35 projects that have planning permission and are at pre-tender stage (Stage 2b).
Regarding the 45 projects that are currently already at tender stage (Stage 3), these projects are being progressed on a rolling basis to ensure that the Department of Education continues to operate within NDP funding parameters. These projects include 19 new school buildings of which the majority are either special schools or primary/post-primary schools that are currently operating from interim accommodation and have an urgent need for permanent accommodation.
Regarding the 35 projects that currently have planning permission and are at pre-tender stage (Stage 2b), these have been prioritised to meet urgent requirements from a special needs perspective or to provide additional capacity to cater for demographics or to address very significant condition issues at the schools. These projects include new school buildings for 12 schools – of which the majority of these schools are either special schools or primary/post-primary schools that currently are operating from interim accommodation and have an urgent need for permanent accommodation. It is envisaged that these projects will be progressed to tender over the course of 2026 and 2027 and within the context of NDP funding parameters.
The 25 modular projects primarily relate to additional SEN capacity for the 2026/27 school year. The number of modular projects is set to increase as further NCSE sanctions are issued. With over 260 SEN classes already approved for 2026/2027, additional projects will be prioritised to facilitate their opening through the Modular and SEN repurposing programmes.
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 individual schools and will ultimately inform the next tranches of programme rollout to tender. The department-led Energy and Condition Survey of the school estate, which will be finalised later in 2026, will provide an additional evidence base for assessing priorities.
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.
Departmental Data
Questions (172)
Darren O'Rourke
Question:172. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she can advise when the new set of actions will be developed for the period 2027 to 2028 as part of Opportunities for Youth: National Strategy for Youth Work and Related Services; if she can provide a timeline for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10936/26]
View answerWritten answers
The national strategy for youth work and related services, Opportunities for Youth (OfY), was published in September 2024. The implementation of OfY will be reported on via the Young Ireland governance structures, including the Young Ireland Advisory Council and the Children and Young People’s Policy Forum
To deliver on its vision, OfY identifies three strategic objectives that will shape the future direction for youth work opportunities and services over the lifetime of the Young Ireland framework.
Strategic Objective 1: The role of youth work services in enhancing the lives of young people is strengthened, more visible and better aligned with other services.
Strategic Objective 2: An equality and rights-based approach is embedded across all youth work services and supporting structures.
Strategic Objective 3: Youth work services are high quality, accountable, sustainable and shaped by relevant data and evidence.
The strategy was informed by extensive consultations with young people and other stakeholders, which is reflected in its scope and ambition.
Since publication, work on the delivery of many of the 18 actions has been progressed by the department and by the youth sector. An action plan is being prepared for publication to capture the work done to date and for delivery in 2026. Consultation with key partners will take place before publication.
The department has received significant input already from the youth sector which is reflected in the draft plan, and which will inform the actions to be developed for the period 2027 to 2028.
Both the implementation, and the cooperation of all relevant actors, will be supported through a new National Youth Sector Reference Group (NYSRG) as well as a group comprising representatives from departments and agencies that provide funding to or interact with the youth sector (Interdepartmental and Interagency Group on State-funded Youth Work Services).
The purpose of the NYSRG is to provide balanced and transparent input from across the youth sector into national decision-making. The group will include representatives from national youth organisations, youth work experts, and young people themselves.
The NYSRG will be an important platform for the delivery of the current suite of OfY actions, and for the development of actions for 2027-2028. It is intended that this group will also engage with the Interdepartmental and Interagency Group on State-funded Youth Work Services, to inform national decision making.