I can confirm that my department is in receipt of an application for capital funding, under the Additional Schools Accommodation (ASA) Scheme from the school in question.
I am pleased to advise the Deputy that the school was approved 4 Special education classrooms and ancillary accommodation in 2022 under the department's ASA Scheme. This project was devolved to the school authority for delivery. In 2023 the school requested the scope of the proposed works at the school be expanded. In light of the request for additional accommodation beyond the four Special education classrooms originally approved, it was agreed and the school was informed in October last year that consultation with the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) would be necessary. The school was advised to contact their local Special Education Needs Organiser (SENO) in order to ensure their views would be considered in the consultation process. Consultation with the NCSE is ongoing.
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.
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.
The accommodation needs at the school in question will be considered as part of the ongoing overall department-led prioritisation process, in consultation with the school’s patron and school authorities. My department will also continue to work with the NCSE in relation to the short-term requirements for special class and special school places and also the more strategic and longer-term requirements. As soon as a decision is reached in relation to the request for an increase in brief the school authority will be contacted directly.
