Written Answers Nos. 577-596
578. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education and Youth to ensure a person (details supplied) will be provided with special school bus transport, in view that the pupil was in receipt of transport and was notified that the route will not operate from 19 January 2026 until further notice; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15005/26]
View answerThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth.
The purpose of the scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school. It is made up of the Mainstream scheme at Primary and Post Primary level, as well as the scheme for pupils with Special Educational Needs.
Bus Éireann have confirmed that the service referred to by the Deputy ceased operating 19 January 2026 and Bus Éireann is working to source a new contractor. They have advised that once a new contractor is sourced , the local office will contact the family directly.
Both the Department and Bus Éireann are very conscious of the challenges faced by parents awaiting transport for students with special educational needs. Families of children who are eligible for these services may therefore apply for the Interim Special Transport Grant which is a once off payment, paid retrospectively to families once the School Transport service resumes and is to assist with the cost of private transport arrangements the family had put in place until services are finalised.
School Transport Section of my Department have contacted the family directly offering the Interim Special Transport Grant.
579. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to this Deputy's Topical Debate on 17 February 2026, the practical steps her Department will take in relation to a playing pitch for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15012/26]
View answerI refer to the Deputy's Topical Debate on 17th February 2026.
My department is aware of the concerns of the school in relation to their green space and has worked closely with the school to reach a solution in this regard.
The Deputy will appreciate that my department is required to utilise the funding available to ensure that every child has access to a school place in circumstances and there is a large demand for special class provision in the Lucan school planning area.
I can assure the Deputy that department officials have engaged with the school authorities in relation to this matter and will continue to do so.
580. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Education and Youth if a value for money audit has been carried out in relation to the overall cost of installing two modular ASD classes for a school (details supplied) and refurbishing the older classroom at the same time, versus subsequently funding an upgrade of the existing modular building at a later stage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15013/26]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy, that approval was given to the school in question for the delivery of 4 Mainstream classrooms, 3 Special education tuition rooms, 2 Special education classrooms, 1 UAWC by traditional build with repurposing to create 1 Special education classroom. This project has been devolved to the school authorities for delivery.
The purpose of the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream classroom and Special Education Needs (SEN) accommodation is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year, where the need cannot be met by the schools existing accommodation.
As the Deputy is aware my department is also engaging with the school authority in relation to progressing modular accommodation at the school in question and my officials are engaging with the school authorities on an ongoing basis in relation to this matter. It is important to note that the traditional build project approved here includes replacement of the classroom being referred to by the Deputy.
Since 2020, my department has invested over €6 billion in our schools throughout the country under the National Development Plan, involving the completion of almost 1,400 school building projects. In addition, repurposing and optimisation of existing accommodation capacity across the school estate has been a key enabler of timely, local provision of special class capacity in a way that supports best practice in inclusion and integration. Circa 80% of new special classes in 2025/26 are being facilitated in repurposed classroom accommodation.
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.
I can assure the Deputy that my officials will continue to engage with the school authorities in question in relation to accommodation matters at this school.
581. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on when her Department will meet three schools in Dublin 7 (details supplied) for the Stage 2A review meeting regarding the proposal to demolish and rebuild their schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15033/26]
View answerThe joint major building project for the schools referred to is currently at Stage 2(a) of Architectural Planning - Developed Design - which is a crucial element of the architectural planning process as it is at this stage that the design is developed to a stage where it can be fully cost planned and prepared to lodge for statutory approvals.
The Design Team submitted their Stage 2(a) Submission report to my Department in January 2024 for review. Upon review, some key concerns were identified by Department officials, and the school authorities and Design Team were advised in advance that in place of the Stakeholders meeting, there would be a further interim Stage 2(a) workshop to discuss and assist the Design Team in progressing their Stage 2(a) submission in a positive manner.
The Design Team were asked to complete a review and audit of the floor area schedules, and to also refine some design elements in order to meet the approved schedule of accommodation.
A further interim workshop was held on 22nd March 2024, between my Department and the Design Team Architect, where further refinements and adjustment to floor area were discussed.
Upon receipt of the revised Stage 2(a) Report Department officials carried out an initial review and arranged an architectural workshop with the Design Team Lead in May 2025 to discuss further.
In early June 2025 a further meeting was held with the wider Design Team, school authorities and Department officials in attendance. At that meeting the school were provided with a progress update and advised that the Design Team was due to submit an Addendum S2a Report to the Department.
The outstanding information for the Addendum Stage 2a Report was received in the Department on 31st October 2025.
A date for the Stage 2a Stakeholders Meeting will be advised upon completion of the Addendum Report review.
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 St John Boscos JNS & SNS and Mary Help of Christians will be considered as part of the ongoing overall department-led prioritisation process, in consultation with the school’s patron and school authorities.
583. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will state when construction can commence on classrooms sanctioned by her Department to meet the needs of students with additional educational needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15061/26]
View answerThe school to which the Deputy refers was approved to enter my Department’s pipeline of school building projects to provide one special education classroom and repurposing works to create one special education classroom. This project is devolved to the school authority for delivery.
A Stage 2b (post planning) report was received in Q2 2025. This report will undergo a comprehensive technical and cost review. All projects, including this one, are subject to the full due-diligence requirements set out in my Department’s 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.
584. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Youth when school bus tickets will be awarded to students (details supplied). [15062/26]
View answerThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth.
Under the current terms of the School Transport Schemes, children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school, and at post primary level where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre as determined by the department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
Eligible children who complete the application process and pay or enter their medical card details on time will get a seat on a school bus service, if a service is available.
Children who are not eligible for school transport but complete the application and pay or enter their medical card details on time will be considered for any spare seats available after eligible children have been accommodated. These spare seats are called concessionary seats, and are subject to the following conditions:
• an application is made by the deadline date
• there is an existing service in place
• there is spare capacity on the service;
• routes will not be extended or altered, additional vehicles will not be introduced, nor will larger vehicles or extra trips using existing vehicles be provided to cater for children travelling on a concessionary basis;
• no additional State cost will be incurred;
Bus Éireann has advised that the family residing in the area referred to by the Deputy are not attending their nearest school/primary center. These pupils are deemed concessionary and were unsuccessful in obtaining tickets as the bus is operating at capacity.
586. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will consider a school placement for a child with additional educational needs raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15074/26]
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 advocates that students will be supported to receive an education in the most inclusive setting possible.
It is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an admissions policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998 and the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018.
Under the provisions of this act, all schools are required to have admissions policies which have been approved by the patron following consultation with staff and parents of students who are attending the school. It is a key requirement of the act that all school admission policies are fair and transparent.
Parents may apply to enrol their child in a school of their choosing and where the school has places available for the relevant year, the student should be admitted. However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available, a selection process will be necessary. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants. Nonetheless, it may result in some students not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.
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.
587. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Youth to allow SNA's to qualify for occupational injury leave; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15075/26]
View answerUnder section 24 of the Education Act 1998 (as amended by the Education (Amendment) Act 2012) the board of management is the employer of teachers, SNAs and other staff of the school. In the case of community national schools, the ETB is the employer and not the board of management.
The board’s role as an employer includes responsibility for the recruitment and dismissal of teachers, SNAs and other staff within the school, subject to relevant Department circulars, employment legislation and sectoral agreements. The role also includes but is not limited to, health and safety, building, promoting and maintaining positive staff relations.
In accordance with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, it is the responsibility of individual school authorities to have a safety statement in place in its school and to ensure as far as is reasonably practicable, the safety, health and welfare at work of its employees and those who are in anyway affected by the work activities of the school. The safety statement should identify potential hazards, assess the risks to health and safety and put appropriate provision in place to safeguard the safety and health of employees and pupils.
The Teacher Unions, through the auspices of the Teachers Conciliation Council (TCC), sought to introduce an Occupational Injury Leave Scheme for teachers. While it was not possible to reach agreement on this issue at the TCC, the Teacher Unions availed of the additional mechanism provided for through the TCC and referred the matter to adjudication. Following this process, the Adjudicator determined that the introduction of an Occupational Injury Leave Scheme corresponding to the provisions of Finance Circular 1/82 should be made available to teachers and work commenced on the introduction of a scheme for teachers in accordance with the findings of the Adjudicator. The terms and conditions of the non-statutory Occupational Injury Leave Scheme for teachers were agreed with all Education Partners.
The SNA Industrial Relations Forum (SNA IR Forum), provides a forum for claims and proposals relating to the salary and other terms and conditions of service for SNAs which is made up of Fórsa representatives, along with School Management Bodies representatives and the Department of Education and Youth.
However, it should be noted that under the Public Service Pay Agreement 2024-2026 (PSA), no cost increasing claims for improvements in pay terms and conditions of employment can be initiated or implemented for the duration of the Agreement, other than in accordance with the provisions of the Local Bargaining clause of the PSA.
588. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she has any plans to review the requirement for newly qualified teachers to have completed the Droichead programme within three years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15076/26]
View answerThe Teaching Council is the regulator of the teaching profession in Ireland. The role of the Council is to protect the public by promoting and regulating professional standards in teaching through the statutory registration of teachers, ensuring a highly qualified teaching profession, whose members meet and uphold high standards of professional competence and conduct.
In line with the Teaching Council Act 2001, as amended, and the Teaching Council Registration Regulations, 2025, all newly qualified teachers (NQTs) who meet the requirements for registration are registered with a condition that they must complete Droichead, the Council’s professional induction process for NQTs, and they are given a period of three years to address the condition.
If applicants have not addressed this registration condition within the three-year period, they may apply for an extension of time to meet the condition. Extensions are granted at the discretion of the Council. Further detail on extension requests is available: www.teachingcouncil.ie/i-am-a-registered-teacher/registration-with-conditions/application-for-an-extension-to-a-period-of-conditional-registration/
If the condition is not met within the timeframe and if an extension request is not granted, a teacher’s registration will lapse. There are no plans to review this requirement of registration.
However, please be advised that a review of the Droichead policy was recently carried out by the Teaching Council and this involved feedback and engagement from a number of stakeholders. Details of the policy review can be found on the Teaching Council website, Droichead Policy Review.
589. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will positively consider the establishment of a special class for children with an autism diagnosis in a school in County Clare (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15077/26]
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 advocates 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.
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.
The NCSE actively encourage expressions of interest from schools to open special classes, and I appreciate and commend the efforts taken by boards of management in expressing their interest.
When assessing the needs in the local area, the NCSE identify schools in the neighbouring vicinity with available special class vacancies or capacity and assess their capability with consideration to demographical and statistical data.
The school referred to by the Deputy already has one special class and any school willing to open further new special classes is to be commended.
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.
590. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on a school building project (details supplied); the timeline for construction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15081/26]
View answerThe project referred to by the Deputy has been devolved for delivery to Ceist.
The brief provides for the development of a new replacement 650 pupil Post Primary School with 5 Class SEN Base including the demolition of existing school buildings, construction of a new school building and all associated site works.
The project is currently progressing through Stage 2b. A final Grant of Planning was received in November 2024. A stage 2b report was submitted by the design team for review in late December 2025. It will undergo a detailed technical and cost review in line with the Public Spending Code. Managing timing, scope, and cost is crucial to staying within budgetary limits for the overall program.
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, the department 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 €293.20 million in capital funding for Co. Limerick schools between 2020 and 2025. Over that period, a total of 54 Limerick 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 6 school projects in Limerick 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.
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 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 my department on a case-by-case basis to determine the prioritised needs and approach for addressing same.
The accommodation needs at 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.
The current status of all projects is listed on a county-by-county basis at www.gov.ie and this is updated on a regular basis to reflect progress through the various stages of capital appraisal, site acquisition, design, tender and construction.
591. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware that an organisation (details supplied) own a building on the same site as a school which they are putting on the market for private sale; and her plans to ensure that it can be used for educational purposes to accommodate the new Gaelcholáiste. [15145/26]
View answerMy department does not intend to purchase the building referenced by the Deputy in her enquiry. A plan is already in place to carry out the necessary work within the existing school site in order for the school to transition from an English medium, single sex, post-primary school, to a co-educational Gaelcholáiste commencing in September 2026.
592. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education and Youth to confirm if there are any plans to develop a new secondary school in Newtownmountkennedy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15158/26]
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, the 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, the 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.
The Department’s demographic projections forecasts that there will be an increase in demand for post primary school places in the Kilcoole SPA until a peak in 2028. First year enrolments are currently projected to have peaked in 2023. However, the projected increases in total enrolment have not yet materialised and enrolments have remained static. Demographic projections are kept under review on an ongoing basis.
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.
An analysis of the population of Kilcoole school planning area shows that the number of children of post primary school age is less than 1,000. The longer-term demand for post primary school places is not projected increase significantly, even when new residential developments and overall population increases are taken into consideration.
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.
Any future shortfall in capacity required to meet the demand for post primary schools can be catered for in the existing post primary schools.
Based on the analysis undertaken, it is deemed that there is not a sufficient unmet demand in the Newtownmountkennedy and wider area to establish a new post primary school.
Requirements for school places will be kept under ongoing review in this region and across the country.
593. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will confirm the status of the development of the Kilkenny Schools Campus site; if the funding of €5 million announced by the previous Minister will be confirmed; if the project will be approved for the next phase of the development given that at the end of 2025, the enabling works were substantially completed with utilities awaiting final connection; if the tender report for pre-qualification of construction contractors has been submitted to her Department for sanction; her Department are awaiting adjudication of the project by the NTMA; the KCETB are now the legal owner of the Kilkenny Schools Campus site and €3.5 million has already been spent on the site; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15164/26]
View answerThe school buildings project to which the Deputy refers Kilkenny City Vocational School and Coláiste Pobail Osraí have been devolved to the Kilkenny and Carlow Education and Training Board (KCETB) for delivery as part of a single campus development.
The approved brief for Coláiste Pobail Osraí provides for a new post-primary school building with a long-term projected enrolment of 400 pupils.
The approved brief for Kilkenny City Vocational School provides for a new post-primary school building with a long-term projected enrolment of 550 pupils, including a 2-classroom SEN provision.
The project is currently at Stage 2b of the architectural planning process, which encompasses detailed design, securing the necessary statutory permissions, and the preparation of tender documentation.
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, the department 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 €207.11 million in capital funding for Kilkenny schools between 2020 and 2025. Over that period, a total of 43 Kilkenny 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 5 school projects in Kilkenny 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.
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 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 of the schools 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.
594. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide a list of schools in Carlow and Kilkenny that are waiting approval for capital works and the stage that each one is at. [15166/26]
View answerThe purpose of my department’s Additional School Accommodation (or ASA) scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream classroom accommodation and accommodation for pupils with special education needs is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year, where the need cannot be met by the school’s existing accommodation or by available accommodation at other schools in the area.
My department's focus is on the most critical needs for the next school year and how each individual school’s accommodation can be best utilised. It is very important that capacity in existing schools and across a town or area is maximised to the greatest extent possible. This includes ensuring that all school accommodation is being utilised as efficiently as possible, and that priority is given to the use of accommodation for classroom purposes, either to meet mainstream or special educational needs.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has a statutory function to plan and co-ordinate the provision of education and support services to children with special educational needs, in consultation with the relevant education partners and the Health Service Executive (HSE). This includes the establishment of special class and special school placements in various geographical areas where there is an identified need.
The table below is a list of applications for Additional School Accommodation in Carlow and Kilkenny that are currently under assessment.
|
Roll Number |
School Name |
County |
School Planning Area |
Edu Org Type |
|
01215C |
NEWTOWN DUNLECKNEY MXD |
Carlow |
Bagenalstown |
Primary |
|
04077I |
Scoil Nais Bhride |
Carlow |
Tullow |
Primary |
|
13105L |
ST BRIDGETS MONASTERY BOYS SENIOR SCHOOL |
Carlow |
Bagenalstown |
Primary |
|
13507I |
S N MUIRE LOURDES |
Carlow |
Tullow |
Primary |
|
19315G |
ST LASERIANS SPECIAL SC |
Carlow |
Carlow |
Special Education |
|
17108O |
ST JOHNS INFANTS N S |
Kilkenny |
Kilkenny |
Primary |
|
18607O |
SCOIL NAOMH IOSEPH |
Kilkenny |
Kilkenny |
Primary |
|
19925K |
Scoil Mhuire |
Kilkenny |
Kilkenny |
Primary |
|
68425P |
Coláiste Abhainn Rí |
Kilkenny |
Callan |
Post Primary |
|
70590T |
Duiske College |
Kilkenny |
Graignamanagh |
Post Primary |
595. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Youth the status of the provision of a new school building to accommodate the amalgamation of school (details supplied); if approval will be given to allow the project to move to the next stage, as committed to previously; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15182/26]
View answerAs the deputy is aware the schools in question amalgamated with effect from 15th May 2025 after discussions between the Patron, the schools involved and Department officials over the previous years.
Since 2020 the Department of Education has provided €207.97 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 4 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. In addition, since 2020 a total of 45 special classes have been opened in Kilkenny, 8 of which were sanctioned for September 2026.
As the Deputy is aware, I have recently published the NDP Sectoral Investment Plan for the Education and Youth Sectors. 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. This list of projects were prioritised from those projects in the department’s pipeline which were sufficiently advanced to enable them to go to tender or construction over the course of 2026 and 2027.
A department-led prioritisation process will continue over the course of 2026 and 2027 to assess and evaluate the progression of individual projects. This process will involve engagement with key stakeholders and individual schools. The department will further engage with the patron regarding how best to address both the school community’s immediate and longer-term requirements to ensure it can cater for its enrolments.
The application for additional accommodation to accommodate the amalgamation of these schools is being considered on this basis.
596. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Youth if a school (details supplied) will be approved to go to tender stage for their construction project, as outlined in their application submitted in December 2025. [15194/26]
View answerThe school to which the Deputy refers was approved to enter my Department’s pipeline of school building projects to provide one mainstream classroom and a two special educational needs base. This project has been devolved for delivery to the school authority.
I can confirm that a Stage 2b report was received by my department in December 2025 and is currently being reviewed. This report will undergo a comprehensive technical and cost review. All projects, including this one, are subject to the full due-diligence requirements set out in my Department’s 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.
