Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 April 2026
43. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Education and Youth when national schools in Galway east, including Dunmore and Carrabane among others, can expect their approved building projects to break ground, given ongoing concerns regarding the condition of existing facilities for students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29100/26]
View answerI would like to thank the Deputy for the question.
Since 2020, my department has invested over €6.7 billion in our schools throughout the country under the National Development Plan, involving the completion of over 1,400 school building projects along with over 4,000 small-scale improvement works to meet priority maintenance needs and advance energy efficiency and climate goal.
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.
With regards to the two school projects specified in your request:
Scoil Nioclás Naofa Dunmore
All applications from schools for major capital works must be considered in the context of capacity requirements and climate action commitments. The plan for identifying opportunities to transform existing schools at national scale will be informed by the outcome of an Energy and Condition survey of all schools which is due for completion this year. The subsequent analysis of this significant amount of data will help determine priorities going forward in relation to retrofit and refurbishment projects. The process may ultimately identify a requirement for the replacement of some accommodation, but this is not expected to be widespread. This overall process is particularly valuable in facilitating a proportionate assessment of a school’s accommodation upgrade needs relative to all other schools and allow an effective prioritisation of capital investment.
The accommodation needs at Scoil Nioclás Naofa Dunmore will be considered as part of process, in consultation with the school’s patron and school authorities. Any interim requirements will be considered by the Department in the normal manner (e.g. Emergency Works Scheme).
St Josephs NS, Carrabane
The project brief for St Josephs NS, Carrabane is to provide for the construction of a replacement 8 classroom primary school and accommodation, including two classrooms, for children with special educational needs. Planning permission for the project expired in 2024 and an extension of Planning Permission was required. This extension was granted by the Local Authority in late August 2025. This project is currently at Architectural Planning Stage 3 – Tender Action and Award. Given the passage of time since tenders were returned the department liaised with the design team architect to confirm if the recommended contractor was willing to stand over their tender. The successful contractor has since notified the design team architect and the department of their withdrawal from the project. The department is now taking the necessary steps to progress the project and is continuing to engage with St Joseph’s Special School, Carrabane with respect to the progression of its project to construction.
The department is currently liaising with the design team architect to follow up with the next recommended tenderer if they are willing to stand over their tender, while ensuring that procurement rules are being adhered.
The current status of all projects, including those in County Galway, is set out under item number ten at 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.
Earlier this year, I published a list of the 105 school building projects to proceed to construction or tender over 2026 and 2027 as part of the first tranche of our NDP Sectoral Investment Plan. This list includes 10 projects in County Galway, of which 5 are in Galway East. Additionally, 20 schools, including 10 in Galway East, are approved to undergo works as part of the Climate Action Summer Works scheme this summer.
These projects are in addition to the €256 million in capital funding since 2020 for schools in County Galway, of which €134 million was for Galway East schools. 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 which includes 46 schools in Galway East.
There are also currently 17 school projects in County Galway under construction of which 12 are in Galway East.
In addition, since 2020 a total of 101 special classes have been opened in Galway, of which 9 were sanctioned in Galway East for September 2026.
