Written Answers Nos. 116-140
116. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aindrias Moynihan den Minister for Education and Youth cén dul chun cinn atá á dhéanamh ag a Roinn maidir leis an bhfoirgneamh nua a thógáil ag scoil (sonraí thíos); agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [40068/26]
View answerThe building project at Coláiste Ghobnatan is devolved for delivery to the Cork Education and Training Board (CETB).
The project brief provides for a Long-Term Projected Enrolment of 300 post-primary pupils.
The project is currently at Stage 2b of the architectural design process. This stage allows for detailed design and planning, obtaining necessary statutory permissions and preparation of tender documents. Planning permission has been granted. A Stage 2b report was submitted to the department in January 2026 by CETB which will undergo a detailed technical and cost review in line with the Public Spending Code. Managing timing, scope, and cost is crucial to staying within budgetary limits for the overall program.
Since 2020, my department has invested over €6.9 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. Circa 80% of new special classes in 2025/26 are being facilitated in repurposed classroom accommodation.
This investment has delivered real benefits for school communities.
A total capital allocation of €7.55 billion for the Department of Education and Youth has been confirmed for the period 2026-2030 under the National Development Plan. As part of this NDP allocation my department will place a strong emphasis on provision for children with special educational needs, with a particular focus on meeting annual school place needs. In relation to project rollout for Large-Scale projects and Additional School Accommodation scheme projects, the approach will be to continue to maximise the capacity of the existing school estate as much as possible in the first instance and provide necessary additional capacity through targeted and prioritised project rollout over the course of 2026 to 2030 period to meet the most urgent and prioritised needs.
As part of the NDP Implementation Plan for the education and youth sector, a first tranche of projects to progress to tender and/or construction during 2026 and 2027 was published in January 2026. Prioritisation will continue to identify further tranches of projects to proceed to tender and construction over the NDP period, with stakeholder consultation to commence in June 2026.
Our NDP Implementation Plan will optimise outputs from the NDP allocations, with a strong focus on maximising existing school capacity, progressing priority projects where local capacity across schools in the area is insufficient, and ensuring delivery that is affordable, offers value for money, and meets functional needs.
The current status of all projects continues to be 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.
117. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Education and Youth the criteria governing eligibility for the emergency works scheme and to clarify the process available to schools where urgent building issues fall outside the scheme's remit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40657/26]
View answerAs the Deputy maybe aware, the purpose of the Emergency Works Scheme (EWS) is to provide funding specifically for unforeseen emergencies, or to provide funding to facilitate inclusion and access for pupils with special needs. It does so by ensuring the availability of funding for urgent works to those schools that are in need of resources as a result of an emergency situation.
As set out in Circular Letter 0068/2020, an emergency is deemed to be a situation which poses an immediate risk to health, life, property or the environment, which is sudden, unforeseen and requires immediate action, and in the case of a school, if not corrected would prevent the school or part thereof from opening.
The EWS operates on the basis of a minimal scope works to address the emergency situation. The EWS is intended to remedy an emergency situation and usually provides only an interim measure until a permanent solution can be delivered under the Summer Works Scheme (SWS) which deals with upgrade works to the school. It should be noted that the EWS does not provide for upgrades, refurbishments or futureproofing.
The EWS is open to primary and post primary schools with permanent recognition and in non-rented accommodation.
To make an application schools must complete the online Emergency Works Application Form available through the Esinet system.
Where urgent issues arise that fall outside the scope of the EWS, schools may engage directly with the Department to determine the most appropriate course of action. All cases are considered on an individual basis, taking account of the specific circumstances involved, including health and safety considerations, operational impacts and any technical assessments provided.
The Department remains committed to supporting school in maintaining safe and suitable accommodations for students and staff.
118. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of applications made for the school transport scheme for the 2026-2027 school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40789/26]
View answerThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth.
Families are required to register their details on the Bus Éireann Family Portal to have their eligibility for transport assessed and to make applications under the scheme.
The closing date for applications and payments for the 2026/27 school year was 08 May 2026 and the portal is now temporarily closed.
Bus Éireann are currently assessing all on time applications and payments received and planning for routes and services for the 2026/27 school year. Routes may be altered or extended depending on the number and location of children who will be availing of school transport for the following school year.
The portal will reopen on 01 July 2026. Applications or payments/medical card details entered after the portal reopens will be considered late and a service may not be available. Additionally, late applications cannot be considered for a Remote Area Grant for the 2026/27 school year.
As the applications received are currently being reviewed the information requested by the Deputy is not readily available at this time.
119. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Education and Youth when additional space can be provided at a school (details supplied) to accommodate extra classrooms and additional ASD places; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40550/26]
View answerI can confirm that my department is in receipt of applications for additional accommodation under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme from the school referred to by the deputy. The applications relate to accommodation for a second special class and additional mainstream accommodation.
The department has published the National Development Plan (NDP) Sectoral Investment Plan for the Education and Youth Sectors 2026-2030. 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 while within the allocated capital funding across all schools in the country.
This allows the department to keep a strong focus on the provision of additional capacity to cater for demographics, new housing developments and the roll-out of additional special classes for children with additional needs. This approach reflects the Department’s fundamental objective of ensuring the availability of a school place for every child.
The department will continue to build on the progress made over recent years with the continued rollout of projects 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, there will continue to be a strong emphasis on maximising existing capacity across the school estate and also ensuring that school admissions policies and processes are targeted at meeting local mainstream and special class requirements.
While primary enrolments have been in decline nationally for many years and this trend is set to continue, the NDP Plan will seek to optimise outputs from the capital allocation, with a strong focus on maximising existing school capacity, progressing priority projects where local capacity across schools in the area is insufficient, and ensuring delivery that is affordable, offers value for money, and meets functional needs.
A department-led prioritisation process will continue over the course of 2026 and 2027 to assess and evaluate the progression of individual projects. This process will involve engagement with key stakeholders and individual schools. It is within this context that a decision on the school’s application will be made. It should be noted that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is the statutory agency with responsibility for the provision of special education places and it has been confirmed by NCSE that the school referred by the deputy has not been sanctioned a 2nd special education needs class.
My department is currently finalising the assessment of the school’s applications and the school will be contacted directly once a decision is made.
120. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Education and Youth the status of all school building projects in County Cork; the timeline since the last stage was entered into for each project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40790/26]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, I have recently published the €7.55 billion NDP Sectoral Investment Plan for the Education and Youth Sectors for the period 2026 to 2030.
Of the total €7.55 billion investment it is envisaged that circa. €5 billion will be used for project rollout to support the delivery and modernisation of school buildings. An additional €2.25 billion of NDP funding will focus on supporting the existing school estate including in terms of maintenance, minor works and the Climate Action Summer Works Scheme.
Project rollout under the NDP will continue on a prioritised basis within the parameters of available funding 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 the first tranche to proceed to construction or tender over 2026 and 2027. These projects were prioritised with a strong focus on maximising existing capacity and prioritising project rollout to meet the most urgent needs.
Since 2020, the Department of Education has provided €796.58 million in capital funding for Cork schools. Over this period, a total of 168 schools have been upgraded either through provision of a new school building, a large-scale extension or provision of modular accommodation. 12 school projects to go to tender or construction in 2026 and 2027 were included in the NDP Implementation Plan. As of end of April 2026, there are 18 school projects in Cork under construction.
This summer, 35 schools are approved to undergo works as part of the Climate Action Summer Works Scheme. In addition, since 2020 a total of 369 special classes have been sanctioned in Cork, of which 63 were sanctioned for September 2026.
My department will continue to engage with patrons and schools in Cork and across the country to inform targeted and prioritised capital investment. This will include the identification of any urgently required works or capacity needs, with stakeholder consultation to commence in June 2026. The 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.
121. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Education and Youth to set out in detail the total number of schools now participating in the pilot project under the reform of the school transport scheme since its implementation in the 2024-2025 school year; if there is a timeline for a national rollout of the revised school transport scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40747/26]
View answerThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth that has expanded significantly over the past six years. In that time, the numbers of children and young people using the service have grown from under 120,000 pupils in 2018 to over 181,000 pupils including over 24,000 pupils with Special Educational Needs in 2025 which equates to an increase of over 50%. Since 2018, investment in the scheme has more than doubled, from €200 million to €537 million.
The School Transport 2030 report was published in early 2024. The recommended changes to the schemes include expansion of the current eligibility criteria, addressing current operational challenges and moving towards better integration with public transport to ensure the best value for money to the Exchequer.
It was outlined at the time the Review was published that the proposed changes to the eligibility criteria would further increase demand for the scheme. Therefore, it was considered prudent to implement the changes on a phased basis.
As part of this phased rollout, 14 School Transport pilots commenced in the 2024/25 school year. A further 11 pilots were approved for the 2025/26 school year. For these pilots, the distance criteria for pupils are reduced to 2km for primary and post primary and the need for a pupil to be attending their nearest school is removed.
Due to ongoing challenges in the wider transport sector, including availability of drivers and vehicles, any expansion of services must be carefully planned and phased. While pilot projects are considered in select areas to test revised eligibility criteria, these pilots are limited in scope and capacity.
All pilots are being monitored, and a further evaluation will take place at the end of the current school year. Findings from these evaluations will guide the planning and implementation needed for a national rollout of a revised School Transport Scheme subject to the availability of resources.
Implementation of the recommendations of the review will continue to be planned subject to resources being available to meet the expected increased demand.
122. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth her Department's plans to develop and implement a nationwide common application system for school admissions, in order to streamline the process for parents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40725/26]
View answerDemographic shifts and increasing demand for special class provision for students with special educational needs have placed growing pressure on school admissions processes across the country. Complexities in the admissions process can cause unnecessary stress for families and place a significant administrative burden on schools.
In response to these challenges and a commitment in the Programme for Government to reforming the admissions process, my Department is working towards a nationwide common application system.
As a first step, the Apply to School pilot scheme was launched in October 2025 for the 2026/2027 admissions cycle. The pilot was introduced for 15 post-primary schools in five school planning areas namely Athenry, Celbridge, Clonakilty, Greystones, and Tullamore_Killina.
The rollout of the pilot Apply to School system for schools represents a significant step towards improving the school admissions system. It provided families with a single online application process and introduced synchronised and streamlined timelines for schools to manage admissions and issue offers.
Detailed post-project evaluations with the schools who participated in the pilot have subsequently been completed. Apply to School received very positive feedback, obtaining an 80% customer effort score and contained some helpful recommendations around the direction of travel for increased system functionality. The feedback received from parents and schools has been carefully considered and forms a useful context for ongoing discussion with stakeholders. Practical suggestions are being integrated into the expanded pilot which will go live on 1 October 2026. The Apply to School pilot focused on achieving simple efficiencies within a short timeframe for delivery and the expanded pilot will build on this. The planned improvements in the functionality of the system reflects collaborative effort to imbed lessons learned and aims to further enhance the potential of the system to ease the administrative burden on both parents and schools. Furthermore, the pilot will be expanded to ten school planning areas by adding a new adjacent area to each of the original five areas.
I can assure the Deputy that my Department will continue to work closely with, and support all key stakeholders involved.
124. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth the collaboration that is ongoing between her Department and the Department of Children, Disability and Equality in respect of the provision of immersive Irish-medium early years education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40464/26]
View answerThe Department of Education and Youth (DEY) and the Department of Children, Disability and Equality (DCDE), work collaboratively to ensure that relevant policies, procedures and guidance are aligned in respect of the provision of immersive Irish-medium early-years education.
Such collaboration is promoted in the following ways:
• Firstly, the DCDE participates on the DEY Steering Committee for the Policy on Irish-medium Education outside of the Gaeltacht.
• DCDE is also represented on the DEY Advisory Committee for the Policy on Gaeltacht Education.
• Publication of the Guide for Gaeltacht Primary Schools: Strengthening links between Primary Schools and Early Learning and Care (ELC) Settings: a collaborative approach to promoting the use of Irish(https://assets.gov.ie/static/documents/guide-for-gaeltacht-primary-schools-strengthening-links-between-primary-schools-and-ea.pdf) is another example of the collaboration between the two Departments in relation to immersive Irish-medium education. That published Guide promotes continuity of high-quality Irish-medium educational experiences from early childhood to primary education.
• Further, every year the Department of Education and Youth Inspectorate visits early learning and care settings operation through the medium of Irish to evaluate the quality of education provision.
• Indeed, a review of Irish-medium education in early learning and care (ELC) settings conducted in 2024 by the DEY inspectorate portrayed a vibrant and committed sector that is continuously growing in its ability to support young children’s linguistic and holistic development.
125. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the progress of plans to deliver a new school building for a school (details supplied); the timeline for the advancement of the project; and the expected delivery date. [40543/26]
View answerThe large-scale capital project referred to by the Deputy for the provision of a new 8 classroom primary school with classrooms for children with special educational needs is at an advanced stage of Architectural Planning Stage 3 – Tender Action and Award.
The procurement process is ongoing; my Department is working closely with the school authority and the Design Team regarding the completion of this process. The next step is the authorisation to issue the Letter of Intent. Once the Letter of Intent issues, there is a minimum 14-day standstill period before there can be further progression of the project. The period between Letter of Intent and Letter of Acceptance varies depending on the project.
Once a contractor has been appointed there is an anticipated contract duration of 16 months.
My Department wants to reassure the Deputy and the school community that construction will be commenced as soon as possible in 2026.
My Department are in regular contact with the school authority regarding the progression of the project.
Since 2020, my department has invested over €6.9 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. Circa 80% of new special classes in 2025/26 are being facilitated in repurposed classroom accommodation.
This investment has delivered real benefits for school communities.
A total capital allocation of €7.55 billion for the Department of Education and Youth has been confirmed for the period 2026-2030 under the National Development Plan. As part of this NDP allocation my department will place a strong emphasis on provision for children with special educational needs, with a particular focus on meeting annual school place needs. In relation to project rollout for Large-Scale projects and Additional School Accommodation scheme projects, the approach will be to continue to maximise the capacity of the existing school estate as much as possible in the first instance and provide necessary additional capacity through targeted and prioritised project rollout over the course of 2026 to 2030 period to meet the most urgent and prioritised needs.
As part of the NDP Implementation Plan for the education and youth sector, a first tranche of projects to progress to tender and/or construction during 2026 and 2027 was published in January 2026. Prioritisation will continue to identify further tranches of projects to proceed to tender and construction over the NDP period, with stakeholder consultation to commence in June 2026.
Our NDP Implementation Plan will optimise outputs from the NDP allocations, with a strong focus on maximising existing school capacity, progressing priority projects where local capacity across schools in the area is insufficient, and ensuring delivery that is affordable, offers value for money, and meets functional needs.
I would like to advise the Deputy, over this period, my Department has provided €264.25 million in capital funding for Galway schools. A total of 89 schools have been upgraded either through provision of a new school building, a large-scale extension or provision of modular accommodation. 10 school projects were included in the NDP Implementation Plan to go to tender or construction in 2026 and 2027 including Carrabane NS.
There are currently 18 school projects in Galway under construction. This summer, 20 schools are approved to undergo works as part of the Climate Action Summer Works Scheme.
In addition, since 2020 a total of 108 special classes have been sanctioned in Galway, of which 30 were sanctioned for September 2026.
126. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on a school building project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40155/26]
View answerThe large-scale capital project referred to by the Deputy for the provision of a new 8 classroom primary school with classrooms for children with special educational needs is at an advanced stage of Architectural Planning Stage 3 – Tender Action and Award.
The procurement process is ongoing; my Department is working closely with the school authority and the Design Team regarding the completion of this process. The next step is the authorisation to issue the Letter of Intent. Once the Letter of Intent issues, there is a minimum 14-day standstill period before there can be further progression of the project. The period between Letter of Intent and Letter of Acceptance varies depending on the project.
Once a contractor has been appointed there is an anticipated contract duration of 16 months.
My Department wants to reassure the Deputy and the school community that construction will be commenced as soon as possible in 2026.
My Department are in regular contact with the school authority regarding the progression of the project.
Since 2020, my department has invested over €6.9 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. Circa 80% of new special classes in 2025/26 are being facilitated in repurposed classroom accommodation.
This investment has delivered real benefits for school communities.
A total capital allocation of €7.55 billion for the Department of Education and Youth has been confirmed for the period 2026-2030 under the National Development Plan. As part of this NDP allocation my department will place a strong emphasis on provision for children with special educational needs, with a particular focus on meeting annual school place needs. In relation to project rollout for Large-Scale projects and Additional School Accommodation scheme projects, the approach will be to continue to maximise the capacity of the existing school estate as much as possible in the first instance and provide necessary additional capacity through targeted and prioritised project rollout over the course of 2026 to 2030 period to meet the most urgent and prioritised needs.
As part of the NDP Implementation Plan for the education and youth sector, a first tranche of projects to progress to tender and/or construction during 2026 and 2027 was published in January 2026. Prioritisation will continue to identify further tranches of projects to proceed to tender and construction over the NDP period, with stakeholder consultation to commence in June 2026.
Our NDP Implementation Plan will optimise outputs from the NDP allocations, with a strong focus on maximising existing school capacity, progressing priority projects where local capacity across schools in the area is insufficient, and ensuring delivery that is affordable, offers value for money, and meets functional needs.
I would like to advise the Deputy, over this period, my Department has provided €264.25 million in capital funding for Galway schools. A total of 89 schools have been upgraded either through provision of a new school building, a large-scale extension or provision of modular accommodation. 10 school projects were included in the NDP Implementation Plan to go to tender or construction in 2026 and 2027 including Carrabane NS.
There are currently 18 school projects in Galway under construction. This summer, 20 schools are approved to undergo works as part of the Climate Action Summer Works Scheme.
In addition, since 2020 a total of 108 special classes have been sanctioned in Galway, of which 30 were sanctioned for September 2026.
127. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth her plans to provide increased dedicated capital funding for youth work organisations, many of which are operating in aging, unsafe, and inaccessible buildings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40773/26]
View answerI thank the Deputy for raising this important issue regarding capital investment in youth work facilities and recognising the vital importance of safe, accessible places and spaces for young people.
As the Deputy will be aware, arising from Budget 2026, an additional €8 million in current and capital funding was made available to support the sustainability and development of youth services. This investment supports the implementation of Opportunities for Youth: National Strategy for Youth Work and Related Services 2024 - 2028 and reflects a strong commitment to ensuring all young people can access high-quality, inclusive supports in their communities. A key element of this enhanced investment is the significant increase in dedicated capital funding for youth services.
Importantly, €4 million will be available for capital investment in 2026, representing an increase of €3.5 million on the previous year. This also marks the first time the youth sector will benefit from a sustained annual capital allocation of €4 million through to 2030, providing much-needed certainty for forward planning.
This increased capital funding will support essential upgrades to youth facilities, equipment and digital infrastructure, helping to ensure that services are delivered in safe, modern and accessible environments for young people.
Work is currently underway within the department to finalise the 2026 Youth Capital Plan, with the scheme expected to be launched in the near future. In parallel, 2026 will serve as an important scoping and preparation year for the wider youth capital programme under the National Development Plan to 2030, including building relationships with key external stakeholders. Youth participation will also be a key element of this planning process. Engagement with the youth sector more broadly will ensure that investment is targeted at areas of greatest need.
128. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will re-run the Irish-medium provision section of the Primary School Survey, given criticisms of the wording, and results showing significantly lower demand than in other similar surveys; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40465/26]
View answerOn 4 November 2025, my department published a 'Framework and action plan for delivery of increased choice for parents on education provision at primary level'. The main focus of this framework and action plan was an online, school-specific survey. The survey ran from 4 November to 16 December 2025.
Through the survey, my department has obtained clear information on the preferences of parents and guardians about the primary schools which their children currently attend, or will attend in coming years, on a number of important areas of primary school provision, including patronage/ethos, co-education or single-sex school provision and language of instruction (English or Irish).
Earlier this week, I announced that my department has completed its work on validating the survey responses and analysing the results, and I am pleased to confirm that the next phase in the process is beginning. From the first week of June, every primary school community will receive their school-specific report, together with detailed explanatory information from my department. This guidance will support Boards of Management in sharing the results with their wider school communities and in engaging openly and constructively with parents, staff and patrons on what the findings mean for their individual school.
These school reports will also include the preferences of parents and guardians of children who are not yet in primary school and will be issued to all primary schools, including multi-denominational primary schools.
While the national picture provides important context, it is the position within each individual school community that matters most. The results are intended to support meaningful local engagement and informed decision-making at school level.
129. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she plans to introduce additional measures and incentives to facilitate the establishment of Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40777/26]
View answerThe Programme for Government 2025, Securing Ireland’s Future, includes a commitment to establish Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí where there is demand and support parents choosing Irish-medium education for their children.
In that context, on 6 November 2025, my department published a ‘Policy for Irish-Medium Education outside of the Gaeltacht’. The policy sets out my department’s vision that high-quality Irish-medium education will be available to all, in inclusive and multicultural educational settings.
A Taskforce on Models of Provision for Irish-medium Education was established in November 2025 as a key action under the policy. The role of the taskforce is to provide a platform for collaboration between my department and key stakeholders to develop a pathway to increase provision of Irish-medium education.
The work of the taskforce is expected to be completed within one year. It will make recommendations to my department on areas such as the criteria for Irish-medium education provision, how to support schools transitioning to Irish-medium education and mechanisms to facilitate expansion of provision.
The Deputy may be aware; that my department’s Primary School Survey ran from 4 November to 16 December 2025. The survey, which is the largest of its kind ever undertaken in Ireland, was school specific and aimed to assess parental demand and preferences for different types of primary school provision.
Through the survey, the department is obtaining clear information on the preferences of parents and guardians about the primary schools which their children currently attend, or will attend in coming years, on a number of important areas of primary school provision, including language of instruction (Irish or English).
The results of the survey will help the department to plan how education at primary level is provided. The survey preferences on education through Irish will inform future school planning and consultation around opportunities to provide increased education provision through Irish.
130. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide an update on the ongoing discussions in relation to pay parity and pensions for caretakers and secretaries; if a resolution has been reached; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40809/26]
View answerSchool secretaries and caretakers are at the heart of the school and are the key interface between students, parents, school leaders, and other staff. Without them, our schools would be unsustainable. In supporting these vital school staff members, we also support the school community as a whole.
My Department has been engaging with Fórsa and the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation over the past number of months under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission and the Labour Court in relation to a number of claims, including a claim for a comparable pension entitlement.
The matter of comparable pension entitlement was referred to the Labour Court. The parties remain in process, and my department remains committed and ready to engage with Fórsa to reach a resolution on this important matter. As with any industrial relations process, where engagement is sensitive and complex, the matters under discussion are confidential until this process concludes.
131. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Education and Youth the funding provided to date in 2026 for independent youth projects in Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40663/26]
View answer149. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department is aware of financial constraints currently being experienced by independent youth projects in Dublin in 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40664/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 131 and 149 together.
My Department is committed to enhancing the delivery and development of youth services and opportunities for young people across the sixteen Education and Training Board (ETB) areas, including City of Dublin.
The Independent Youth Work Projects – Dublin (IYWP-D) is a collective of 31 independent youth work projects and services across Dublin city that receive UBU funding from the Department of Education and Youth, administered through the City of Dublin ETB.
The UBU Your Place Your Space (UBU) scheme is the department’s largest funded youth scheme, targeting young people aged between 10 and 24 years old who are identified as marginalised, vulnerable and at risk of not flourishing. It delivers evidence-informed interventions that promote soft skills, confidence, and progression into education, training, or employment, and provides the foundation for local youth organisations to deliver tailored supports that meet the needs of their communities.
A budget of €52.8 million was allocated under the main UBU scheme in 2026, representing a 4% increase on Budget 2025. Over €17.8 million of the UBU budget was allocated to City of Dublin Education and Training Board in its capacity as a grant administering body of the UBU scheme.
In 2026, the 31 Youth Services represented by Independent Youth Work Projects – Dublin were allocated a total of €14,086,539 in UBU funding from the department. The table below details the funding allocated to these projects for the last 4 years, which has risen by over €3million since 2023.
My officials and I will continue to engage with the ETBs across the country who have responsibility for supporting the provision, coordination, administration, and assessment of youth services in their functional areas to understand the youth service needs of young people across the country, including those living in Dublin city.
UBU Funding Table: Independent Youth Work Projects Dublin (IYWP-D)
|
UBU |
2023 Full Year Allocation |
2024 Full Year Allocation |
2025 Full Year Allocation |
2026 Full Year Allocation |
|
An Siol |
€64,622 |
€65,979 |
€68,948 |
€74,916.00 |
|
Ballyfermot Youth Service |
€584,578 |
€596,854 |
€662,924 |
€682,812.00 |
|
Ballymun Regional Youth Resource |
€1,242,313 |
€1,268,402 |
€1,325,480 |
€1,395,244.00 |
|
Bradog Youth Service |
€487,271 |
€836,829 |
€877,099 |
€903,412.00 |
|
Bru Youth Service |
€387,110 |
€402,893 |
€423,689 |
€436,400.00 |
|
Cabra for Youth |
€286,242 |
€292,253 |
€305,404 |
€321,066.00 |
|
Canal Communities (Bluebell Youth Project) |
€329,446 |
€343,789 |
€361,846 |
€372,701.00 |
|
Candle Community Trust |
€170,452 |
€174,031 |
€181,862 |
€214,318.00 |
|
Cavan Centre |
€384,967 |
€393,051 |
€410,738 |
€449,351.00 |
|
Cherry Orchard Youth Service |
€363,135 |
€378,415 |
€398,109 |
€410,052.00 |
|
Clay Youth Project |
€315,317 |
€321,939 |
€336,426 |
€376,519.00 |
|
Core Youth Service |
€387,692 |
€403,334 |
€424,097 |
€450,820.00 |
|
Donnycarney YP |
€203,757 |
€208,036 |
€217,398 |
€227,920.00 |
|
Eastwall Youth Development |
€147,433 |
€150,529 |
€157,303 |
€170,022.00 |
|
Exchange House |
€484,689 |
494,867 |
€517,136 |
€532,650.00 |
|
FamiliBase |
€409,461 |
€425,714 |
€447,537 |
€468,163.00 |
|
Finglas Youth Resource |
€628,506 |
€656,705 |
€691,482 |
€717,226.00 |
|
Kilmore West Youth Project |
€161,799 |
€165,197 |
€172,631 |
€184,710.00 |
|
Poppintree Youth Service |
€258,940 |
€264,378 |
€276,275 |
€291,763.00 |
|
Rialto Youth Project |
€460,758 |
€478,088 |
€502,268 |
€517,336.00 |
|
Ringsend and Irishtown YP |
€225,040 |
€229,766 |
€240,105 |
€257,308.00 |
|
Rutland Area Youth Service |
€0 |
€598,198 |
€625,117 |
€647,871.00 |
|
Solas Project |
€331,802 |
€346,424 |
€364,679 |
€382,819.00 |
|
South Area Youth Service (SAYS) |
€312,239 |
€318,796 |
€333,142 |
€343,136.00 |
|
Sphere 17 |
€902,452 |
€1,293,518 |
€1,456,951 |
€1,500,660.00 |
|
St Andrews YP |
€312,334 |
€318,893 |
€333,243 |
€343,240.00 |
|
St John Bosco YS |
€207,646 |
€219,661 |
€232,212 |
€239,178.00 |
|
St Ultans Childcare |
€67,809 |
€69,233 |
€72,348 |
€74,518.00 |
|
Swan Youth Service |
€468,064 |
€660,664 |
€695,619 |
€732,779.00 |
|
SWICN Computer Clubhouse |
€177,339 |
€181,063 |
€189,211 |
€204,887.00 |
|
Trinity Youth Service |
€148,088 |
€151,198 |
€158,002 |
€162,742.00 |
|
TOTAL |
€10,911,301 |
€12,708,697 |
€13,459,281 |
€14,086,539 |
132. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the consideration that has been given to including additional schools to the list of 105 prioritised large-scale and additional school accommodation projects on the National Development Plan school building rollout; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40742/26]
View answerThe 105 projects prioritised to proceed to tender and/or construction across 2026 and 2027 represent a first tranche of large scale, extension and modular projects. However, further tranches will be prioritised to proceed at a later stage over what is a five year NDP plan with a total investment of €7.55 billion.
The projects selected for the initial tranche were already at Stage 3 (tender stage) and the most urgent projects at Stage 2b (detailed design) that had planning permission. Projects that were not already at this stage of readiness were not eligible for consideration for the initial tranche. The Stage 2b projects selected to progress were identified as meeting the most urgent requirements from a special education, demographics or building condition perspective.
As part of planning ahead for the next tranche of projects to progress to tender, a department-led prioritisation process will continue over the course of 2026 and 2027. This will include engagement with key stakeholders, including meetings with patrons in June. 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. A next tranche of projects to proceed to tender is expected to be announced in 2027.
Engagement with individual schools will also continue and will include consideration of issues such as any interim accommodation requirements and, in some cases, advancing enabling works to facilitate smooth progress to construction at a later stage.
It is important to note that the 105 projects on the initial NDP priority list represent a subset of the overall school building programme. In total, there are 260-300 projects under construction at any one time. Over the course of 2026, some 1,000 school projects of varying scales will be under construction. In addition to large scale, extension and modular projects, this includes climate action projects, summer works and repurposing of rooms for special education classes.
Since 2020, the Department of Education and Youth has provided over €460 million in capital funding for schools in counties Wicklow and Wexford. Over this period, a total of 106 schools have been upgraded either through provision of a new school building, a large-scale extension or provision of modular accommodation. 3 school projects in county Wicklow and 1 project in county Wexford to go to tender or construction in 2026 and 2027 were included in the NDP Implementation Plan. There are currently 21 school projects under construction in counties Wicklow and Wexford.
This summer, 14 schools in counties Wicklow and Wexford are approved to undergo works as part of the Climate Action Summer Works Scheme. In addition to this, 41 special classes in counties Wicklow and Wexford have been sanctioned for September 2026.
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.
133. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason a school (details supplied) has not been included on the recently published school building list, despite the school having worked with her Department for six years on a new build project, and having progressed to planning permission; the current status and expected timeline for the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40814/26]
View answerThe school referred to by the Deputy was approved to enter my Departments pipeline of school buildings for a project to provide eight general classrooms (one prefab replacement), one science laboratory with prep area, one design and communication graphics room, one music room, one special education tuition (SET) room, one textiles room, one construction room with prep area (prefab replacement), one GP Dining (prefab replacement) and a two classroom special education needs (SEN) base. The project was devolved for delivery to Longford and Westmeath Education and Training Board (LWETB).
A stage 2a report was received in April 2026, which is currently under review from both a technical and cost perspective and will be subject to the necessary due diligence outlined in the Infrastructure Guidelines and to overall programme prioritisation within the parameters of NDP funding.
My department is committed to ensuring appropriate accommodation is available for all school pupils and will, in the wider context outlined, ensure that each school project on the school building programme is subject to the due diligence required under the Public Infrastructure Guidelines.
As the Deputy is aware, my Department published the €7.55 billion National Development Plan (NDP) Sectoral Investment Plan for the Education and Youth Sectors for the period 2026 to 2030. The prioritisation of projects included in this plan focused on facilitating those projects already at Stage 3 to proceed to construction as smoothly as possible during 2026 and 2027.
In addition, the prioritisation of projects at Stage 2b focused on those which had secured planning permission and were therefore at an appropriate stage of readiness to progress to tender. Within this cohort, special school projects were afforded the highest priority. For all other schools, a multi-faceted qualitative assessment of relative priority was applied. This assessment took account of a range of factors, including the availability of permanent accommodation, demographic pressures both at school and area level, special education capacity being provided, the extent to which schools are prioritising local school place needs, any significant condition issues at the school, interim accommodation constraints, and the duration of the project to date.
The project at this school remains at a preliminary design stage, as planning permission has not yet been secured. As such, it was not sufficiently progressed to be included in the initial tranche of projects advancing to in 2026 and 2027. Progression to the next stage, following receipt of a Stage 2B report (post-planning), will be considered as part of the Department’s overall programme prioritisation, in the context of available NDP funding.
134. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the rollout of inclusive special classes and the progress of the Towards Inclusion Programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40751/26]
View answerEnabling students with special educational needs to receive an education that meets their needs is a priority for this Government. It is also a key priority for me, my department and for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).
The vast majority of students with special educational needs are supported to attend mainstream classes with their peers. Where students with more complex needs require additional supports, special class and special school places are provided. This is in keeping with policy on an inclusive education, which advocates that students will be supported to receive an education in the most inclusive setting possible.
My department and the NCSE continue to work closely with school patron bodies, school management bodies and schools to confirm new special classes for the next school year 2026/2027. The NCSE began sanctioning new special classes in January of this year, which is several months earlier than last year.
546 new special classes have been sanctioned to date, including 47 inclusive special classes. Further new special classes expect to be confirmed in the coming weeks. Details of the new special classes are available on the NCSE website.
Forty-seven inclusive special classes have been sanctioned as part of a new approach to supporting students with additional needs. This builds on good practice that helps students with additional needs learn alongside other students in mainstream classes, while also having time during the day to receive extra support in a special class. It formalises good practices already in place in many schools and aligns with national policy developments on inclusive education.
The "Towards Inclusion" (TI) pilot programme, funded through the Dormant Accounts Fund (DAF), is an initiative involving a number of special schools working in partnership with a mainstream school aimed at fostering inclusive educational practices through collaborative efforts between neighbouring institutions. The programme is managed by the NCSE on behalf of the Department.
The TI pilot programme began in 2024, 24 schools (12 special schools and 12 mainstream schools) participated in the pilot completing a wide range of projects across the curriculum. These schools were invited to continue or expand their projects in 2025. In addition to these schools, a further 26 Special Schools partnering with a mainstream school were invited to participate in 2026 bringing the total number of clusters to 38 (76 schools in total).
An application for funding under DAF 2027 to extend the pilot to an additional 40 schools is currently being prepared by my officials.
My department and the NCSE are committed to delivering an education system that is of the highest quality and where every child and young person feels valued and is actively supported and nurtured to achieve their full potential.
135. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether discretion can be applied in the deployment of an additional mainstream teacher for schools (details supplied) which will lose a teacher and be required to host a multi-grade class for the coming school year. [40517/26]
View answerThe key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September. The staffing schedule operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all similar types of schools equally.
The staffing arrangements for the 2026/27 school year are set out in Circular 0025/2026. That circular contains information and application forms on the staffing appeals process, where schools may appeal their staffing allocation to the Primary Staffing Appeals Board. The Appeals Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.
136. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Education and Youth if there will be new pilot school transport routes approved for the 2026-2027 academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40739/26]
View answerThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth that has expanded significantly over the past six years. In that time, the numbers of children and young people using the service have grown from under 120,000 pupils in 2018 to over 181,000 pupils including over 24,000 pupils with Special Educational Needs in 2025 which equates to an increase of over 50%. Since 2018, investment in the scheme has more than doubled, from €200 million to €537 million.
The School Transport 2030 report was published in early 2024. The recommended changes to the schemes include expansion of the current eligibility criteria, addressing current operational challenges and moving towards better integration with public transport to ensure the best value for money to the Exchequer.
It was outlined at the time the Review was published that the proposed changes to the eligibility criteria would further increase demand for the scheme. Therefore, it was considered prudent to implement the changes on a phased basis.
As part of this phased rollout, 14 School Transport pilots commenced in the 2024/25 school year. A further 11 pilots were approved for the 2025/26 school year. For these pilots, the distance criteria for pupils are reduced to 2km for primary and post primary and the need for a pupil to be attending their nearest school is removed.
Due to ongoing challenges in the wider transport sector, including availability of drivers and vehicles, any expansion of services must be carefully planned and phased. While pilot projects are considered in select areas to test revised eligibility criteria, these pilots are limited in scope and capacity.
All pilots are being monitored, and a further evaluation will take place at the end of the current school year. Findings from these evaluations will guide the planning and implementation needed for a national rollout of a revised School Transport Scheme subject to the availability of resources.
Implementation of the recommendations of the review will continue to be planned subject to resources being available to meet the expected increased demand.
137. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will request the Health and Safety Authority and the local fire chief to provide a comprehensive report to her Department on the condition of each prefab used by a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40609/26]
View answerThe school referred to by the Deputy is under the patronage of Kilkenny and Carlow Education & Training Board (KCETB) who are the appropriate authority for the management and operation of the school infrastructure.
As the Deputy may be aware, my department operates an Emergency Works scheme (EWS) in order to provide funding specifically for unforeseen emergencies. It does so by ensuring the availability of funding for urgent works to those schools that are in need of resources as a result of an emergency situation. An emergency is deemed to be a situation which poses an immediate risk to health, life, property, or the environment, which is sudden, unforeseen and requires immediate action, and in the case of a school, if not corrected would prevent the school or part thereof from opening. The EWS operates on the basis of a minimal scope works to address the emergency situation. The EWS is intended to remedy an emergency situation and usually provides only an interim measure until a permanent solution can be delivered under the Summer Works Scheme (SWS) which deals with upgrade works to the school.
I can also confirm that my department is in receipt of an application for capital funding, under the Additional Schools Accommodation (ASA) Scheme from the school authority in question.
As the Deputy will be aware, my department published the NDP (National Development Plan) Sectoral Investment Plan for the Education and Youth Sector. 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. The longer-term accommodation requirements of the school in question will be considered as part of the ongoing overall department-led prioritisation process, in consultation with KCETB.
138. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on the County Galway school building projects prioritised in the NDP Sectoral Investment Plan published by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40154/26]
View answerSince 2020, the Department of Education has provided €264.25 million in capital funding for Galway schools. Over this period, a total of 89 schools have been upgraded either through provision of a new school building, a large-scale extension or provision of modular accommodation.
There were 10 school building projects in County Galway prioritised in the NDP Sectoral Investment Plan to go to Tender/Construction over the course of 2026 and 2027.
Of these 10 projects, 2 projects are currently onsite (Stage 4), 4 are at Tender stage (Stage 3) , 4 projects are at Detailed Design stage ( Stage 2B/Stage 2).
10 Projects included in the first tranche of 105 NDP Projects
|
Project Type |
Roll Number |
School Name |
Constituency 2025 |
School Level |
Current Stage |
|
Large Scale |
17444H |
SN Seosamh Naofa |
Galway East |
Primary |
Stage 3 |
|
Large Scale |
19529C |
Scoil Mhuire |
Galway West |
Primary |
Stage 2b |
|
Large Scale |
20042E |
Scoil an Chroí Naofa |
Roscommon-Galway |
Primary |
Stage 2b |
|
Large Scale |
20237T |
Gaelscoil Riada |
Galway East |
Primary |
Stage 3 |
|
Large Scale |
76102K |
Coláiste an Eachréidh |
Galway East |
Post Primary |
Stage 3 |
|
Large Scale |
71250A |
Coláiste Cholmcille |
Galway West |
Post Primary |
Stage 3 |
|
ASA |
91412M |
Scoil Phobail |
Galway West |
Post Primary |
Stage 4 |
|
ASA |
19047H |
St. Joseph's Special School |
Galway West |
Special School |
Stage 2b |
|
Modular |
71390Q |
Archbishop McHale College |
Galway East |
Post Primary |
Stage 4 |
|
Modular |
10863P |
SN Na Coille Glaise |
Galway East |
Primary |
Stage 2 |
These projects along with the current status of all other projects, including completions, 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.
139. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Education and Youth the actions being taken to ensure schools are adequately resourced to meet growing enrolment demands over the coming years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40694/26]
View answerThe numbers employed in our schools have now reached the highest-ever level. More than 43,000 teachers are employed in our primary schools. This represents an increase of just over 5,000 teachers when compared with the 2019/20 year and this has led to a steady improvement in the pupil teacher ratio and average class size statistics during this period.
In 2015, teachers were allocated to primary schools at a general average of 28 pupils for every one teacher. This has been improved to 23:1, with lower thresholds in place for DEIS Urban Band 1 schools. In the same 10 year period, average class sizes in primary schools have improved from 24.9 to 22.2 and the pupil : teacher ratio shows the ratio of pupils to teachers improve from 16:1 to 12.8:1. In addition to the reductions in the teacher allocation ratio, a three-point reduction in the retention schedule, which was introduced in 2021, assists schools that would otherwise be at risk of losing teaching posts. Further progress on this matter will be considered as part of the annual budgetary process.
Within the staffing arrangements, there are options available to schools to apply for additional staffing. Schools experiencing rapid increases in enrolment can apply for additional permanent mainstream posts, using projected enrolment. There is also a staffing appeals mechanism for schools to apply to an independent Primary Staffing Appeals Board, under certain published criteria.
140. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the pilot centralised secondary school admissions system that was trialled in County Offaly in 2025; whether an evaluation of the pilot has been completed; and if she will outline any findings or recommendations arising from that process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34609/26]
View answerDemographic shifts and increasing demand for special class provision for students with special educational needs have placed growing pressure on school admissions processes across the country. Complexities in the admissions process can cause unnecessary stress for families and place a significant administrative burden on schools.
In response to these challenges and a commitment in the Programme for Government to reforming the admissions process, my Department is working towards a nationwide common application system.
As a first step, the Apply to School pilot scheme was launched in October 2025 for the 2026/2027 admissions cycle. The pilot was introduced for 15 post-primary schools in five school planning areas namely Tullamore_Killina, Athenry, Celbridge, Clonakilty, and Greystones.
The rollout of the pilot Apply to School system for schools represents a significant step towards improving the school admissions system. It provided families with a single online application process and introduced synchronised and streamlined timelines for schools to manage admissions and issue offers.
Detailed post-project evaluations with the schools who participated in the pilot have subsequently been completed. Apply to School received very positive feedback, obtaining an 80% customer effort score and contained some helpful recommendations around the direction of travel for increased system functionality. The feedback received from parents and schools has been carefully considered and forms a useful context for ongoing discussion with stakeholders. Practical suggestions are being integrated into the expanded pilot which will go live on 1 October 2026. The Apply to School pilot focused on achieving simple efficiencies within a short timeframe for delivery and the expanded pilot will build on this. The planned improvements in the functionality of the system reflects collaborative effort to imbed lessons learned and aims to further enhance the potential of the system to ease the administrative burden on both parents and schools. Furthermore, the pilot will be expanded to ten school planning areas by adding a new adjacent area to each of the original five areas.
I can assure the Deputy that my Department will continue to work closely with, and support all key stakeholders involved.
