Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 April 2026
235. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on a building project for a school (details supplied); the phases of the project; the pieces of the plan delivered in each phase; the date for completion and opening; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27371/26]
View answer238. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide information specifically in relation to the PE facilities being provided in a school build project (details supplied); to include information on outdoor and indoor PE settings in the plan. [27390/26]
View answer246. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether there is scope for altering the proposed sports facilities at a school in County Dublin (details supplied) to make provision for astro-turf facilities to support sports such as soccer. [27578/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 235, 238 and 246 together.
The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is being delivered by my Department’s Design & Build Programme and will deliver a new 1,000 pupil post-primary school and accommodation, including 6 classrooms, for children with special education needs on a site at Kishogue Cross, Griffeen Avenue, Lucan, Co Dublin. The new 1,000 pupil post-primary school will be provided with a PE Hall with Fitness Suite as well as 6 hard play ballcourts and secure hard and soft special education play area.
The Letter of Acceptance (LOA) issued to the successful contractor in November 2024, allowing the contractor to commence on site. The project is being delivered in one phase, with the school expected to be completed and handed over in early Quarter 3 2026.
Under the Department’s Design & Build Programme, school building projects, including the building project referred to by the Deputy, provides for ballcourts with a tarmac hard surface. It is current Department policy to fund a standard tarmac surface for hard play ballcourt surfaces rather than an alternate surface e.g. Astroturf. There are additional costs associated with the delivery of hard surfaces other than tarmac and associated ongoing maintenance burdens and costs to school authorities for the upkeep of alternate surfaces once installed. Astro pitches may be considered only in exceptional circumstances or self-funded by school authorities.
There is a pilot project underway to research alternate ballcourt surfaces to help inform the Department’s future thinking and policy in relation to hard play area surfaces. However, the Department must tightly prioritise available capital funding for the provision of additional capacity to meet mainstream and special education needs, and any potential future measures regarding playing surfaces will be considered in the context of the overall capital funding position.
