Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 May 2026
363. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Youth to significantly increase funding for building works and modernisation works to national primary and secondary schools across County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41290/26]
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 3 for County Kerry, 1 post primary and 2 primary schools. 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 close to €150 million in capital funding for County Kerry schools. Over this period, a total of 69 schools have been upgraded either through provision of a new school building, a large-scale extension or provision of modular accommodation, 19 post primary and 50 primary schools. There are currently 11 school projects in County Kerry under construction, 1 post primary and 10 primary school projects. This summer, 20 schools in County Kerry are approved to?undergo works as part of the Climate Action Summer Works Scheme,9 post primary and 11 primary schools. In addition, since 2020 a total of 70 special classes have been sanctioned in County Kerry, of which 17 were sanctioned for September 2026.
This investment has delivered real benefits for school communities in County Kerry.
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.? As part of this engagement any interim accommodation needs or required enabling works will be explored. Meetings with patrons are scheduled for June. 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.
