Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 May 2026
151. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will progress a new school building for a school (details supplied) to accommodate the needs of students in Blanchardstown village and Blanchardstown west school planning area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39175/26]
View answerI am pleased to confirm to the Deputy, that the school in question recently agreed a brief for 2 Special education classrooms in Modular accommodation. The Viability report was finalised and agreed with the school authorities and the project is now being progressed through the Modular framework by the department's assigned Project Managers.
I can also confirm that my officials received an application, on 05/05/2026, for Major Capital funding to provide a new school building from the school in question.
As the Deputy will be 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. In line with the NDP Sectoral Plan, capital investment will be targeted and prioritised to meet the most urgent and prioritised needs, focusing on maximising the capacity of the existing school estate as much as possible in the first instance.
The proposal for a new school building will be considered in the context of a number of core factors including the school’s accommodation requirements, available accommodation capacity across schools in the area, demographics in the school planning area, school building projects already in train and projected demand for places in the school planning area.
The Deputy has met with the department's Forward Planning Section where extensive data was provided in relation to demographic demand for post primary school places in the Dublin west area.
The school in question is one of 3 Post Primary schools in the Blanchardstown_Village School Planning Area (SPA). These schools had a combined first year enrolment of 466 in 2025 and a total enrolment of 2697 pupils. This SPA also has 11 primary schools and enrolments in these schools have peaked with currently 24% less pupils in Junior Infants than in 6th class. It is envisaged that there is sufficient capacity to cater for every 6th class pupil seeking a post primary school place.
The neighbouring SPA of Blanchardstown_West will be served in the long term by 2 Post Primary schools, Coláiste Pobail Setanta and Hansfield ETSS with combined capacity here for at least 2,000 pupils. Hansfield ETSS has yet to enrol to full capacity.
This SPA has 7 primary schools and enrolments in these schools have also peaked with 18% less pupils in Junior Infants than in 6th class.
The department will continue to build on the progress made over recent years with the continued rollout of projects on a prioritised basis and in consultation with patrons to meet the most urgent needs in terms of provision of additional capacity and modernisation of existing facilities. 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 and will give a good picture of the nature of accommodation at all schools. This will facilitate good strategic overview and decision-making on relative priorities between schools for further investment in the existing school estate.
A decision on this application will be communicated to the school authority in due course.
