Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 July 2026
91. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Youth the capital funding and minor works funding granted to schools in Kerry in 2025 and to date in 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53901/26]
View answerIn 2025, schools in County Kerry received €22.35 million in capital funding, which included a total of €2.13 million in Minor Works Grant funding. The Minor Works Grant funding comprised allocations for the 2025/26 school year, paid in June 2025, and the 2026/27 school year, paid in December 2025.
To date in 2026, schools in County Kerry have been revived €8.4 million in capital funding, the next payment of Minor Works Grants is scheduled later in the year.
My department is delivering significant projects in County Kerry and continues to progress further important projects.
3 schools in County Kerry were included in a priority tranche of projects due to move to tender or construction during 2026 and 2027 under the Department's National Development Plan implementation programme. This includes St. Oliver’s NS which has since moved into construction.
Additionally, 20 schools are approved to undergo works as part of the Summer Works Scheme / Climate Action scheme this summer.
These projects are in addition to over €153 million in capital funding for County Kerry schools since 2020, of which in the region of €12 million was paid through the Minor Works Grants. Over that period, 70 schools in County Kerry have been upgraded either through provision of a new school building, a large-scale extension or provision of modular accommodation. There are also currently 10 school projects in County Kerry under construction.
In addition, since 2020 a total of 70 special classes have been opened in County Kerry, of which 17 were sanctioned for September 2026.
The current status of all projects, including those in County Kerry 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.
