Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 May 2026
355. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on major ongoing school building projects in south Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41108/26]
View answerLast January, I 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.
Of the total €7.55 billion investment, it is envisaged that approximately €5 billion will be used for project rollout to support the delivery and modernisation of school buildings. This project rollout will continue on a prioritised basis to meet the most urgent needs in terms of provision of additional capacity and modernisation of existing facilities. In this regard, I have also published a list of the 105 school building projects in a first tranche to proceed to construction or tender over 2026 and 2027, including 5 projects in Kildare south. These projects were prioritised with a strong focus on maximising existing capacity and prioritising project rollout to meet the most urgent needs particularly to support special education needs provision.
Since 2020, the Department of Education and Youth has provided €169 million in capital funding for schools in south Kildare. Over this period, a total of 21 schools have been upgraded either through provision of a new school building, a large-scale extension or provision of modular accommodation. There are currently 6 school projects in south Kildare under construction.
This summer, 1 school in south Kildare?is approved to?undergo works as part of the Climate Action Summer Works Scheme. In addition to this, 9 special classes have been sanctioned in south Kildare for September 2026.
I recognise that there are schools with important building projects that are not included in the first tranche of prioritised projects. My department will engage with stakeholders to inform the next tranches of projects to roll out to tender.? Meetings with patrons are scheduled for June. As part of this engagement any interim accommodation needs or required enabling works will be explored.
A next tranche of projects to proceed to tender is expected to be announced in 2027.
The current status of all projects is set out under item number ten at the following link (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.
