Schools Building Projects

Wednesday, 18 February 2026

Questions (86, 87, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 111, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127)

Catherine Callaghan

Question:

86. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on a school building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13025/26]

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Catherine Callaghan

Question:

87. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on a school building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13026/26]

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Catherine Callaghan

Question:

90. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on a school building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13029/26]

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Catherine Callaghan

Question:

91. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on a school building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13030/26]

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Catherine Callaghan

Question:

92. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on a school building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13031/26]

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Catherine Callaghan

Question:

93. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on a school building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13032/26]

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Catherine Callaghan

Question:

94. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on a school building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13033/26]

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Catherine Callaghan

Question:

95. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on a school building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13034/26]

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Catherine Callaghan

Question:

96. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on a school building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13035/26]

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Catherine Callaghan

Question:

97. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on a school building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13036/26]

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Catherine Callaghan

Question:

98. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on a school building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13037/26]

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Catherine Callaghan

Question:

99. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on a school building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13038/26]

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Catherine Callaghan

Question:

100. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on a school building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13039/26]

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Catherine Callaghan

Question:

101. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on a school building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13040/26]

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Catherine Callaghan

Question:

102. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on a school building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13041/26]

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Catherine Callaghan

Question:

103. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on a school building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13042/26]

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Catherine Callaghan

Question:

104. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on a school building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13043/26]

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Catherine Callaghan

Question:

105. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on a school building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13044/26]

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Catherine Callaghan

Question:

106. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on a school building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13045/26]

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Catherine Callaghan

Question:

107. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on a school building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13046/26]

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Catherine Callaghan

Question:

108. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on a school building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13047/26]

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Catherine Callaghan

Question:

109. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on a school building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13048/26]

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Catherine Callaghan

Question:

111. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on a school building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13050/26]

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Catherine Callaghan

Question:

113. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on a school building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13052/26]

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Catherine Callaghan

Question:

114. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on a school building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13053/26]

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Catherine Callaghan

Question:

115. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on a school building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13054/26]

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Catherine Callaghan

Question:

116. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on a school building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13055/26]

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Catherine Callaghan

Question:

117. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on a school building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13056/26]

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Catherine Callaghan

Question:

118. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on a school building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13057/26]

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Catherine Callaghan

Question:

119. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on a school building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13058/26]

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Catherine Callaghan

Question:

120. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on a school building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13059/26]

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Catherine Callaghan

Question:

121. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on a school building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13060/26]

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Catherine Callaghan

Question:

122. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on a school building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13061/26]

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Catherine Callaghan

Question:

123. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on a school building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13062/26]

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Catherine Callaghan

Question:

124. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on a school building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13063/26]

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Catherine Callaghan

Question:

125. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on a school building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13064/26]

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Catherine Callaghan

Question:

126. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on a school building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13065/26]

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Catherine Callaghan

Question:

127. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on a school building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13066/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Education and Youth

I propose to take Questions Nos. 86, 87, 90 to 109, inclusive, 111 and 113 to 127, inclusive, together.

The schools referred to by the Deputy currently have projects at various stages within my Department’s overall school building programme pipeline under the SEN Repurposing Scheme, the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme and the Large-Scale Capital Programme.

My Department provides details of all live and completed project information for SEN Repurposing, ASA and Large-Scale projects on its website which are updated on a regular basis. These can be accessed at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/collections/building-works-for-the-construction-extension-and-refurbishment-of-schools/#school-building-projects-large-scale-additional-accommodation-scheme-and-senrepurposing-current-status-lists

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.

A key priority of my Department within its NDP Sectoral Investment Plan is the maximising of existing school capacity. This includes the SEN Repurposing Programme which progresses urgent building projects that involve repurposing existing school accommodation for SEN provision. 80% of new special classes established for the 2025/26 school year were established within repurposed school accommodation and this programme will continue to be an important element of the overall department solution for special education needs provision.

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 projects in County Carlow and Kilkenny and is further to significant investment in schools in those counties in recent years.

In Carlow, between 2020 and 2025, my Department has provided €50.16 million in capital funding for Carlow schools. Over this period, a total of 24 schools have been upgraded either through provision of a new school building, a large-scale extension or provision of modular accommodation. There are currently 6 school projects in Carlow under construction. Another 3 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 Kilkenny between 2020 and 2025, my Department has provided €207.11 million in capital funding for Kilkenny schools. Over this period, a total of 43 schools have been upgraded either through provision of a new school building, a large-scale extension or provision of modular accommodation. There are currently 5 school projects in Kilkenny under construction. Another 3 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.

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 in Carlow and Kilkenny schools will be considered as part of the ongoing overall department-led prioritisation process, in consultation with the school’s patron and school authorities.

Question No. 87 answered with Question No. 86.