Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 May 2026
452. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the status of the school building project for a school (details supplied); the current stage of the project within her Department’s capital programme, the expected timeline for progression to construction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33184/26]
View answerAs previously advised, the project was approved under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme to provide fourteen mainstream classrooms (eight prefab replacement), three science labs with shared prep area, one textiles room, one DCG/tech graphics room, one art room, one technology prep area, two project stores, a four classroom Special Educational Needs (SEN) base and ancillary.
This project has been devolved to Galway and Roscommon Education and Training Board (GRETB) for delivery.
The project is currently at Stage 2A (Developed Design) of the architectural planning process. A Stage 2A submission was previously received and reviewed by officials in my Department in line with the full due-diligence requirements set out in the Department’s Infrastructure Guidelines. That submission did not include all necessary information, and GRETB was therefore requested to provide a revised report.
The updated Stage 2A report has since been submitted and is now undergoing a detailed technical and cost assessment. All projects, including this one, are subject to the full due-diligence requirements set out in the Department’s Infrastructure Guidelines. Managing timing, scope, and cost is crucial to staying within budgetary limits for the overall program.
A definitive timeline for proceeding to construction cannot be provided for projects that have not yet proceeded to tender. The progression of such projects is dependent on a range of contingent factors that can arise at each stage of the delivery process, including design development, statutory approvals, procurement, and the availability of construction capacity, all of which must be managed within the capital funding allocations set out under the National Development Plan In addition, for projects that secure planning permission before they can advance to tender or construction, the duration of the planning process is outside the Department’s control and can vary depending on local authority timelines.
As the deputy is aware my Department recently published the €7.55 billion NDP Sectoral Investment Plan for the Education and Youth Sectors for the period 2026 to 2030. 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, my 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 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.
