Written Answers Nos. 141-160
141. Deputy Micheál Carrigy asked the Minister for Education and Youth the amount of interest earned by each ETB yearly for monies on deposit and the amount of interest earned by the Department of Education and Youth for monies on deposit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10853/26]
View answerThe interest earned by my Department for the last 2 years for which certified accounts are available is as follows:
|
- |
2023 |
2024 |
|
Interest |
€272,536 |
€287,873 |
The interest earned by Education and Training Boards (ETBs) for the last 2 years is as follows:
|
|
2023 |
2024 |
|
|
€ |
€ |
|
Cavan & Monaghan |
4,257 |
22,874 |
|
City of Dublin |
485,980 |
418,735 |
|
Cork |
24,029 |
85,273 |
|
Donegal |
- |
14,811 |
|
Dublin & Dun Laoghaire |
153,025 |
88,322 |
|
Galway & Roscommon |
35,386 |
- |
|
Kerry |
2,115 |
15,874 |
|
Kildare & Wicklow |
10,095 |
35,155 |
|
Kilkenny & Carlow |
136,201 |
126,447 |
|
Laois & Offaly |
100,872 |
107,058 |
|
Limerick & Clare |
- |
- |
|
Longford & Westmeath |
- |
- |
|
Louth & Meath |
- |
- |
|
Mayo, Sligo & Leitrim |
- |
- |
|
Tipperary |
91,112 |
104,190 |
|
Waterford & Wexford |
202,153 |
194,643 |
|
|
1,245,225 |
1,213,384 |
Interest earned for 2025 for both my Department and ETB's will be available once the Appropriation Accounts for 2025 are complete.
142. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Education and Youth when the next review of school capacity for the midlands will be completed; the way in which it will inform decisions on new builds or school extensions in Offaly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10483/26]
View answerIn order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a geographical information system, using data from a range of sources, including CSO census data, child benefit and school enrolment data, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise and where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary level.
Since 2020, my department has invested over €105 million in school infrastructure across Co. Offaly. The department is continually planning for and investing in existing and new schools to ensure that every child in the State has access to a school place.
If additional accommodation is required, the aim is to try and facilitate this, as much as possible, by way of expansion of existing schools rather than establishing new schools. The expansion of existing schools is consistent with wider Government objectives under Project Ireland 2040 for an increased emphasis on compact growth.
My department’s NDP Sectoral Investment Plan 2026-2030 involves a very strong emphasis on maximising existing capacity and prioritisation of school building projects to meet the most urgent needs. 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 first tranche of 105 projects covers the initial two-year period of NDP rollout. The next tranche of projects will be finalised and published afterwards (post 2027) following a stakeholder engagement process to identify the next most urgent priorities. This stakeholder engagement will be undertaken in 2026 and 2027 and will include an assessment of how well existing capacity is maximised and enrolment policies and processes are prioritising local special education provision and mainstream requirements. 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 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.
My Department will continue to liaise with Offaly County Council in respect of their county development plan and any associated local area plans with a view to identifying potential evolving long-term school accommodation requirements across school planning areas.
143. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will ensure that sufficient funding is approved to re-start and complete the construction of a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10771/26]
View answerThe Deputy may be aware that the construction of the school in question is being progressed directly by the school. The project is being funded under the Immigration Investor Programme (IIP), introduced by the Irish Government in 2012. This development is being progressed by the school in conjunction with the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, who have oversight of the IIP Programme.
My Department understands that the school announced in a statement recently that works will commence in the coming weeks, with full construction scheduled to recommence this summer.
The Department of Education and Youth has not had any involvement with the project.
Question No. 144 answered with Question No. 124.
145. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide a list of the new school builds commenced since 2023 where pre-school childcare has been co-located with the mainstream school setting, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10572/26]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that my department does not collect the requested information regarding the number of pre-schools located with a new build mainstream school. The main priority of my department is to provide sufficient capacity for educational purposes of school going children.
The Department of Education and Youth supports and encourages the use of all school buildings for community and recreational purposes, where feasible, including childcare and after school uses. Procedures on the use of school property and school sports facilities outside of school hours are available for each school to refer to for guidance in relation to the use of school buildings outside of school hours, including any planned pre school, after school and creche arrangements.
However, the decision on the use of school property is a matter for the property owner taking into consideration the current and future requirements of the school, the students and the staff. Also it is important that any proposed arrangement does not impede upon the future development of the school, given that the priority for schools is educational provision for its pupils.
146. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth the way in which her Department intends to address recent findings that education policy-making in Ireland remains cautious and fragmented, and is not keeping pace with rapid technological changes including artificial intelligence; and the reforms planned to ensure schools can respond effectively to emerging challenges. [11014/26]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the education system plays a central role in Ireland’s economic, social and cultural development. My Department has a wide policy remit as reflected in the breadth of commitments for education included in the Programme for Government.
There are a diverse range of policy initiatives across the remit of my Department which includes, but is not limited to:
• curricular reform at primary and post-primary level;
• delivery of supports to those with additional learning needs;
• addressing educational disadvantage;
• diversity of school patronage and the provision of mutli-denominational education;
• expansion of the provision of Irish-medium education;
• workforce development for our teaching and non-teaching workforce in schools; and
• reform and development of school transport.
This policy-making role is combined with significant operational delivery by the Department. The development of policy involves using national and international research on learning and drawing on a range of data and evidence from a variety of sources.
In line with the key pillars of the framework and process model of good policy development as outlined in the Public Policy Handbook, published by the Government in 2025, analysis and statistics play a central role in education policy-making, ensuring that decisions are based on robust evidence and that innovation is introduced in a structured, proportionate and responsible manner.
The application of these principles supports an ambitious programme of reform and delivery of change across a diverse system which includes approximately 4000 schools serving almost one million learners.
This programme of reform is designed to ensure that the education system responds to the changes in society and technology that we are seeing and that our pupils and students are prepared for the emerging challenges into the future.
The Convention on Education, which I recently launched, will bring together key voices in education to discuss the future direction of our education system and the key challenges that it faces. The work of the Convention will be informed by the National Conversation on education, which I launched in January. This will draw on diverse voices and inputs to allow the Convention to set a path for education into the future.
147. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measures being taken to reduce waiting times for school building projects in areas such as County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9695/26]
View answerThe nature of a large capital programme means that delivery timelines can vary; however, the Department seeks to manage the overall school building programme to ensure that projects are completed in the shortest possible timeframe within the parameters of the NDP, the Capital Works Management Framework and the Infrastructure Guidelines.
Delays can arise for a variety of reasons, including factors beyond the Department’s control such as site identification and acquisition, planning permission issues, and procurement challenges. These factors are addressed as effectively as possible while continuing to prioritise the most urgent projects, particularly where capacity is already fully utilised, and by deploying modular accommodation where additional short-term space is required.
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. This list includes 10 projects in County Galway.
These projects are in addition to €250.85 million in capital funding for Galway schools between 2020 and 2025. Over that period, a total of 88 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 17 school projects in County Galway under construction.
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 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.?
148. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth the decision-making processes within her Department on the allocation towards youth services through the NDP Sectoral Investment Plan, 2026-2030; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10103/26]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, I 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 Investment 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 is a strong special education dimension to project rollout.
The NDP Sectoral Investment Plan increased funding of €20 million for the youth sector was informed by the level and type of demand for capital expenditure within the sector over recent years and with a view to providing more capacity to continue targeted investment in essential upgrades to youth facilities, equipment, and digital infrastructure in a modern youth work environment.
The overarching vision is to ensure that young people have access to safe, inclusive, fit-for-purpose spaces that support meaningful engagement, development, and participation.
Under the NDP, youth capital funding of €4.0 million will be available annually to support the youth sector from 2026 to 2030, representing a significant increase of €3.5 million on the 2025 allocation and an enhancement on the annual youth capital allocations of recent years.
All capital investment in the youth sector will be aligned with the National Development Plan framework and forms part of the department’s approach to long-term infrastructure planning and service development. This framework marks the first time that the youth sector has had clear visibility and certainty regarding capital funding over a multi-year period.
Importantly, establishing a defined capital envelope under the NDP provides a predictable basis for planning, allowing the youth sector to prepare projects in a structured and strategic way. It also supports value for money and a coherent long-term development of youth facilities nationally.
Question No. 150 answered with Question No. 121.
151. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Education and Youth the timeframe for the construction of the new secondary school in Roscrea (details supplied). [8210/26]
View answerThe project referred to by the Deputy has been devolved for delivery to Tipperary Education and Training Board.
The brief provides for the development of a new replacement 800 pupil Post Primary School with 4 Classroom Special Education Needs Base.
The project was approved to progress to Stage 2b of the architectural planning design process in July 2025. This stage allows for detailed design and planning, obtaining the necessary statutory permissions and the preparation of tender documents. The department awaits the submission of the Stage 2b report.
As the Deputy is 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. The department 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 €176.12 million in capital funding for Tipperary schools between 2020 and 2025. Over that period, a total of 67 Tipperary 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 8 school projects in Tipperary under construction. Another 4 school projects will go to tender and construction in 2026 and 2027 and this summer 14 schools are approved to undergo works as part of the Summer Works Scheme/Climate action scheme.
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.
The department recognises that there are schools with 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 my department on a case-by-case basis to determine the prioritised needs and approach for addressing same.
The accommodation needs at Colaiste Phobail Roscrea will be considered as part of the ongoing overall department-led prioritisation process, in consultation with the school’s patron and school authorities.
152. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department has carried out projections on primary and post primary school numbers that also take account of housing targets by area; and the consequent plans that are in place for resources; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11069/26]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that requirement for school places is kept under on-going review in the context of available information on population, enrolments and residential development activity.
In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a geographical information system, using data from a range of sources, including CSO census data, child benefit and school enrolment data, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise and where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary level.
Major new residential developments have the potential to alter the demand for school places at a local level. In that regard, as part of the demographic demand analysis, my department monitors planning and construction activity in the residential sector. This involves the analysis of data sources from local authorities and the CSO along with the engagement with local authorities and the construction sector. In this way, up-to-date information on significant new residential developments is obtained and factored into the demographic analysis exercise. This is necessary to ensure that schools infrastructure planning is keeping pace with demographic changes, at a local level, where there is a constantly evolving picture with planned new residential development.
My department also conducts granular analysis below the level of a school planning area, particularly where a school planning area encompasses both high growth urban settlement areas and a more rural hinterland. Our analysis of school place demand in urban areas experiencing high population growth has indicated that demand in the urban area can be 10-20% higher than the school planning area as a whole.
Where demographic data indicates that additional provision is required, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the circumstances of each case and may, be provided through:
• Utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools,
• Extending the capacity of a school or schools,
• Provision of a new school or schools.
If additional accommodation is required, the aim to try and facilitate this, as much as possible, by way of expansion of existing schools rather than establishing new schools. The expansion of existing schools is consistent with wider Government objectives under Project Ireland 2040 for an increased emphasis on compact growth. In respect of post primary schools, new post primary schools must have a student enrolment capacity of 600-1,000 students and must be co-educational. A lower threshold of 400 students may apply to gaelcholáistí, having regard to the alternative of establishing an Irish-medium unit (aonad) in an English-medium school.
New schools are only established in areas of demographic growth as the resources available for school infrastructure have to be prioritised to meet the needs of areas of significant population increase so as to ensure that every child has a school place.
To ensure alignment of school provision with the rollout of additional residential development, the department, through the various consultation phases of the Statutory Plan process, liaises with all 31 Local Authorities in respect of their County Development Plans, all associated Local Area Plans and Masterplans with a view to identifying any medium to potential long-term school place and accommodation requirements across school planning areas and with the purpose of ensuring that there is an adequate amount of appropriately zoned and suitably located sites for future school place provision, which are in line with objectives as identified in the National Planning Framework.
Statutory processes to vary County Development Plans by Local Authorities are ongoing following the announcement of revised housing targets. This will see an intensification of the Statutory Plan process by local authorities for the foreseeable future. My department officials, who have consistently engaged in this process throughout 2025, will continue to do so going forward into 2026 and beyond.
153. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department will provide an update on a school (details supplied), and the progress in relation to the proposed new three-school campus following her visit to the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11017/26]
View answerThe school referred to by the Deputy forms part of the Celbridge Campus project encompassing Scoil Naomh Padraig, St Raphael’s Special School and Celbridge Community School. This project has been devolved for delivery to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) as part of a bundled school building programme (Project Shannon).
The brief for Scoil Naomh Padraig includes the provision of 24 mainstream classrooms and 4 Special Educational Needs classrooms.
The project is currently at Stage 2a of the architectural design process. Stage 2a (the developed design stage) involves the Design Team developing the designs, fully cost planning the campus project and preparing the necessary documentation to facilitate the lodging for statutory approval to Kildare County Council. The department are currently awaiting the submission of the Stage 2a report. A meeting between Department officials, the NDFA and the Land Development Agency (LDA) in relation to this campus project took place at the end of January. The NDFA will continue to engage directly with the school authority to keep them fully informed of all progress on this important project.
In relation to the present temporary accommodation, my department continues to work closely with the school in question, the wellbeing and safety of students is a priority. Some interim works have recently been undertaken to ensure that all pupils can attend the school as normal. Some further works are also planned.
As the Deputy will be aware, the department 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 €397.08 million in capital funding for Kildare schools between 2020 and 2025. Over that period, a total of 47 Kildare 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 9 school projects in Kildare under construction. Another 12?school?projects will go to tender or construction in 2026 and 2027, and this summer, 5 schools?are approved to?undergo works as part of the Summer Works Scheme / Climate Action scheme. In addition, since 2020 a total of 74 special classes have been opened in Kildare, 11 of which were sanctioned for September 2026.
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.
The department recognises that there are schools with 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 my 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 will be considered as part of the ongoing overall department-led prioritisation process, in consultation with the school’s patron and school authorities.
154. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will approve a second special education class for a school (details supplied) for the academic year 2026-2027; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10478/26]
View answerEnabling students with special educational needs to receive an education that meets their needs is a priority for this Government. It is also a key priority for me, my department and for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).
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 class and special school places are provided.
This is in keeping with policy on an inclusive education, which promotes that students will be supported to receive an education in the most inclusive setting possible.
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. Each special class at primary level is allocated 1 teacher and 2 SNAs and at post-primary level, schools receive 1.5 teachers and 2 SNAs.
Details of the new special classes are available on the NCSE website.
Schools seeking to establish new special classes should continue to engage with the NCSE at local level. In sanctioning new special classes, the NCSE have due regard to the level of need in an area and the existing provision, including how many places are expected to be available through the normal movement of students from primary to post-primary or finishing school. Budget 2026 provides funding for over 400 new special classes.
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.
155. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Education and Youth her proposals to ensure that primary and secondary schools are adequately funded. [10481/26]
View answerThe Government is committed to increasing funding to support schools and the Programme for Government commits to increasing capitation funding to schools of all types to ensure that schools can meet the elevated day-to-day running costs.
The commitment in the Programme for Government builds on the progress which has been made in recent years. My Department has secured €39 million in Budget 2026 towards increased capitation funding for primary, post-primary and special schools to provide additional financial support towards their running costs. This will see an increase in the standard capitation rates paid to schools of €50 per pupil for primary schools from €224 to €274 and of €20 per student for post-primary schools from €386 to €406. This will also allow for an increase of €20 in capitation rates for Urban Band One DEIS primary schools, increasing the mainstream pupil rate in these schools to €294. The increased capitation rates will also see special schools now receive the same rates of capitation, for young people aged 12 and over, as for their peers in mainstream post-primary schools. This funding will benefit schools around the country in managing their day-to-day running costs.
The increases announced in Budget 2026 are in addition to the 12% increases as part of Budget 2025. The last three Budgets have resulted in an increase in the level of capitation grant rates of 49.7% (€91) paid to primary schools and 28.5% (€90) paid to post-primary schools.
OGP frameworks are available to schools for a number of categories including facilities management, managed services, professional services, and utilities. Schools should ensure that they are availing of these available OGP procurement frameworks in order to get the best value for money for all school expenditure. The benefits arising from these frameworks include cash savings, administrative savings from reduced duplication of tendering, greater purchasing expertise, improved consistency, enhanced service levels and legal certainty. Schools Procurement Unit (SPU), funded by the Department, is an important source of advice and support to schools on procurement matters- www.spu.ie
The Financial Support Services Unit (FSSU), funded by the Department, is an important source of advice and support to schools on financial matters, including budgeting and cashflow management. Any schools that are experiencing financial difficulty can contact the FSSU for guidance and support. Contact details for FSSU can be found on www.fssu.ie.
156. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Education and Youth the actions being undertaken by her Department to prevent delays in approving school construction projects following the submission of necessary documents by schools. [9919/26]
View answerThe nature of a large capital programme is that timelines for delivery can vary. However, my department endeavours to manage the overall school building programme, across an estate incorporating 4,000 schools, to ensure that projects are delivered in the shortest possible timeframe. My department has a strong track record of delivery with over 1,400 completed school building projects, including large-scale projects, additional accommodation, and modular buildings delivered since 2020. The department also completed more than 4,000 smaller-scale school building improvements through emergency works and summer works schemes during this timeframe.
Delays can occur in large capital programmes for many reasons, including factors beyond the department’s control, for example identifying and acquiring a site, planning permission issues, procurement challenges. These factors are managed as effectively as possible whilst continuing to prioritise the most urgent projects where capacity is already fully utilised and deploying modular accommodation where near-term additional space is needed. The department also must manage the rollout of projects within the parameters of its NDP funding, the Capital Works Management Framework and the Infrastructure Guidelines.
I recently published our sectoral plan to give more clarity to schools, over 105 schools are included in the first tranche of projects going to tender and/or construction during 2026 and 2027. 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.
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
157. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth the specific actions her Department is taking to address overcrowded classrooms, particularly where it is impacting the effective delivery of the updated social, personal and health education curriculum, including drug education modules at secondary level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11012/26]
View answerThe Department of Education and Youth works together with the Department of Health and other agencies to support students in the area of health. The aim is to equip students with the skills and knowledge to enable them to make the right choices for healthy lifestyles throughout their lives.
Schools have a role to play in supporting their students to develop the key skills and knowledge to enable them to make informed choices when faced with a range of difficult issues. This is mainly done through the Social Personal and Health Education (SPHE) programme.
The Department has undertaken a very significant reform of the Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) curriculum, following on from a review by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) across primary and post-primary.
An updated Junior Cycle SPHE specification was rolled out in schools from September 2023. The Junior Cycle SPHE specification includes five learning outcomes in relation to substance abuse.
An updated Senior Cycle SPHE specification was introduced in September 2025 for those entering Leaving Certificate Applied, replacing older modules within LCA Social Education. Post-Primary schools have until September 2027 to introduce the specification for other students entering fifth year, to accommodate the necessary planning and preparatory work. It includes three learning outcomes on the issue of substance abuse.
The Wellbeing specification of the new Primary curriculum, including SPHE, was published in September 2025. This specification also includes learning outcomes for older Primary children in relation to substance misuse prevention.
The changes to the curriculum are designed to give students an age and stage appropriate reference to consider and reflect upon issues related to drug use, amongst many other topics.
Online toolkits are published on curriculumonline.ie where teachers can access SPHE teaching and learning resources for all levels in primary and post-primary. Teachers can choose from a significant suite of resources to support them in preparing for and teaching SPHE. These resources include those in relation to substance misuse, all of which are subject to update and review as the curriculum is rolled-out.
Teacher allocations to all schools are approved annually in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. The criteria for the allocation of posts are communicated to school managements annually and are available on the Department website.
Currently the staffing schedule for post-primary mainstream pupil teacher ratio is set at 19:1 for free education schools. This allows schools to determine the best possible configuration of classes and the deployment of classroom teachers to meet the local school level requirements, which can be impacted by a number of factors, including subject demand and size of local community.
158. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the progress of a new school building for a school (details supplied). [10764/26]
View answerMy department is in receipt of an application for capital funding, under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme, from the school referred to by the Deputy.
I can confirm to the Deputy, that the school referred to was given an initial offer of approval under the ASA scheme in 2025, for accommodation to be delivered through the department's Project Manager framework. This offer was accepted by the school authorities.
The appointed Project Manager has provided a Viability Report for the delivery of 2 special education classrooms in a modular build. This report is currently under consideration by my officials, and they will be in touch with the school authorities shortly in relation to the next steps in the process.
Between 2020 and 2025, the Department of Education has provided almost €1,8 billion in capital funding for Dublin schools. There are currently 64 school projects in Dublin under construction.
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 capacity and prioritisation of school building projects to meet the most urgent needs. My department will continue to build on the progress made over recent years with the continued rollout of projects on a prioritised basis and in consultation with patrons to meet the most urgent needs in terms of provision of additional capacity and modernisation of existing facilities.
159. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Education and Youth the timeline for when modular accommodation will be delivered in a school (details supplied), given the ongoing emergency works issues; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11004/26]
View answerThe major project for the school referred to by the deputy is part of a campus project that has been devolved for delivery to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) as part of a bundled school building programme. There are three schools within this campus project including this school.
The brief for the school includes the provision of 24 mainstream classrooms and 4 SEN classrooms. The project is currently at Stage 2a of the architectural design process. Stage 2a (the developed design stage) involves the Design Team developing the designs, fully cost planning the campus project and preparing the necessary documentation to facilitate the lodging for statutory approval to the county council as part of the Stage 2b process.
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. However, the NDFA will continue to engage directly with the school authority to keep them fully informed of progress on this important project.
The purpose of the Emergency Works Scheme (EWS) is to provide funding specifically for unforeseen emergencies, or to provide funding to facilitate inclusion and access for pupils with special needs. It does so by ensuring the availability of funding for urgent works to those schools that are in need of resources as a result of an emergency situation.
An emergency is deemed to be a situation which poses an immediate risk to health, life, property or the environment, which is sudden, unforeseen and requires immediate action, and in the case of a school, if not corrected would prevent the school or part thereof from opening. The EWS operates on the basis of a minimal scope works to address the emergency situation. The EWS is intended to remedy an emergency situation and usually provides only an interim measure until a permanent solution can be delivered under the Summer Works Scheme (SWS) which deals with upgrade works to the school.
With regards to the school in question, while some applications were submitted these were not finalised as the EWS team was awaiting further information but due to the condition of the interim buildings the Department engaged a Project Manager to attend the school and they are managing the works in the school at present.
These works include some roof repairs, drainage works and mechanical/electrical works. The project manager is keeping the school up to date on the works. My Department has also engaged with the school with regard to their interim accommodation needs and in this regard two additional interim classrooms were provided to the school recently.
160. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on her Department’s engagement with a school (details supplied); if progress has been made in the allocation of additional supports and resources for the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11074/26]
View answerTackling educational disadvantage and helping students reach their full potential is a key priority for me as Minister for Education and Youth, and for the Government. Currently, the DEIS programme supports almost 1,200 primary and post-primary schools, reaching approximately 260,000 students, with an annual investment of over €180 million. Budget 2026 allocates an additional €16.5 million in 2026, rising to €48 million in 2027, to support the implementation of the new DEIS Strategy and to introduce the DEIS Plus scheme, which will commence this year.
My department is committed to supporting a quality and inclusive school system that provides an equal opportunity for success for all children. DEIS remains central to that commitment, and the forthcoming DEIS Strategy will ensure that supports are targeted fairly and reflect the evolving needs of our school communities by engaging with stakeholders and developing a more dynamic, needs-based allocation model.
The refinement of the DEIS model as part of the new strategy will consider how emerging or evolving patterns of disadvantage can be better addressed and how the system can best respond to schools that face increasing levels of need.
Any future expansion of the DEIS programme and overall allocation of resources will be determined within the context of the new DEIS Strategy, which will be published in the coming weeks.
