Schools Building Projects

Wednesday, 17 September 2025

Ceisteanna (498)

Aidan Farrelly

Ceist:

498. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Education and Youth her plans to build new post primary schools and or expand capacity at other schools within County Kildare. [48197/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Youth

I wish to advise the Deputy that requirement for school places is kept under on-going review in the context of available information on population, enrolments and residential development activity.

In order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a geographical information system, using data from a range of sources, including CSO census data, child benefit and school enrolment data, to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise and where additional school accommodation is needed at primary and post-primary level.

Major new residential developments have the potential to alter the demand for school places at a local level. In that regard, as part of the demographic demand analysis, my department monitors planning and construction activity in the residential sector. This involves the analysis of data sources from local authorities and the CSO along with the engagement with local authorities and the construction sector. In this way, up-to-date information on significant new residential developments is obtained and factored into the demographic analysis exercise. This is necessary to ensure that schools infrastructure planning is keeping pace with demographic changes, at a local level, where there is a constantly evolving picture with planned new residential development.

Where demographic data indicates that additional provision is required, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the circumstances of each case and may, be provided through:

• Utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools,

• Extending the capacity of a school or schools,

• Provision of a new school or schools.

If additional accommodation is required, the aim to try and facilitate this, as much as possible, is by way of expansion of existing schools rather than establishing new schools. The expansion of existing schools is consistent with wider Government objectives under Project Ireland 2040 for an increased emphasis on compact growth. In respect of post primary schools, new post primary schools must have a student enrolment capacity of 600-1,000 students and must be co-educational. A lower threshold of 400 students may apply to gaelcholáistí, having regard to the alternative of establishing an Irish-medium unit (aonad) in an English-medium school.

New schools are only established in areas of demographic growth as the resources available for school infrastructure have to be prioritised to meet the needs of areas of significant population increase so as to ensure that every child has a school place.

There are currently no plans to establish new post-primary schools in Co. Kildare.

There are 32 post-primary projects planned in County Kildare and when completed, will cater for the demand for school places in the area:

Roll Number	School Planning Area	School Name	Total Project Brief	Current Stage Of Project
61681V	Newbridge	Patrician Post Primary, Newbridge	New building 1000x & 6x Special education classrooms	Stage 3
61690W	Kilcullen	Cross & Passion Secondary School, Kilcullen	An extension to increase capacity to LTPE 1000+6 SEN	Stage 3
61702D	Monasterevin	St Pauls' Secondary School, Monasterevin	The development will consist of the construction of a post primary school ( Saint Paul’s Secondary School ), which will accommodate c.850x pupils, comprising 31x Mainstreaml classrooms, 18x specialist classrooms, special educational classroom library, general purpose / dining / social areas, staff / administration areas, multi-use hall & fitness area, store areas, toilets, & all ancillary areas.. The school building is two storeys high with glass roof lanterns above the ridge line & includes an external store. Vehicular access will be off the R417 (Athy Road), with new access gates, in a new opening in the existing demesne wall. The development will include the provision of 1 no. grassed playing pitch, 4 no. hard surface play areas, 94 no. car parking spaces (to include car set down), cycle parking areas, bus set down areas, all ancillary site development, l&scaping & boundary treatment, drainage & infrastructural works, including new surface water drainage from the school to the river Barrow & new electrical substation with access off the R417. at Nurney Road, , Monasterevin, Kildare	Stage 5
61730I	Naas	St. Mary's Girls Post Primary, Naas	New building to increase capacity to LTPE 1000x & 6x Special education classrooms	Stage 3
70650L	Athy	Athy Community College	Extension to increase capacity to LTPE 1000 + 4x Special education classroom	Stage 2b
70700A	Maynooth	Maynooth Post Primary School	1,000 pupil school & 2x Special education classroom	Stage 5
70720G	Prosperous_Clane	St Farnan's Post Primary, Prosperous	A new school building to increase capacity to LTPE 1000, existing PE hall to be refurbished & 4x Special education classroom	Stage 2b
76193Q	Maynooth	Maynooth Community College	1000x pupil & 2x Special education classrooms	Stage 5
76194S	Naas	Naas Community College	1,000x pupil school & 2x Special education classrooms	Stage 5
91614B	Celbridge	Celbridge Community School	Proposed 1,000x pupil & 4x Special education classrooms	Stage 2a
76554W	Maynooth	Gael Coláiste Mhuaigh	Refurbishment works to create 1x Science lab and 1x Woodwork room	Stage 4
61661P	Celbridge	Salesian College, Celbridge	2x Special education classroom, 4x Special education tuition room	Stage 5
61730I	Naas	St. Mary's College, Naas	1x Science Laboratory, 1x Technical Graphics Room	Stage 5
61691B	Kilcock	Scoil Dara, Kilcock	11x Mainstream classrooms, 2x Science labs and Prep area, 1x Art room, 1x Textiles room, 1x Multimedia room, 2x Offices	Stage 2a
70691C	Leixlip	Confey College	1x Special education classroom	Stage 1
91372D	Prosperous_Clane	Scoil Mhuire CS	2x Science labs and prep area, 5x Mainstream classroom, 4x Special education classroom	Stage 2b
70730J	Rathangan	Ardscoil Rath Iomghain	3x Science laboratories and prep area; 4x Mainstream classrooms; 4x Special education tuition rooms: 1x Art room: 1x Music room: 1x Multi:media room: 4x Special education classrooms	Stage 2a
70660O	Curragh	Curragh Community College	1,000x & 4x Special education classrooms - delivered in 2 phases	Stage 3
61691B	Kilcock	Scoil Dara	Reconfiguration to create 1x Special education classroom	Stage 5
70670R	Castledermot	Colaiste Lorcan	2x Special education classrooms,1x Multimedia room,1x Music room, 2x Science labs and 1x Prep area	Stage 2a
76554W	Maynooth	Gaelcholaiste Maynooth	New school for 350x pupils plus 2x Special education needs	Stage 1
61691B	Kilcock	Scoil Dara	Reconfiguration works to entrance to cater for increased enrolments	Stage 5
70660O	Curragh	Curragh Community College	5x Mainstream classrooms; 1x DCG room; 1x Social space; 3x Offices and Toilets	Stage 5
76554W	Maynooth	Gaelcholáiste Mhaigh Nuad	Repurposing works to create 1x Technology room, 1x Mainstream classroom, 1x Art room, 1x Music room, 1x Office and toilets	Stage 5
70680U	Newbridge	St Conleth's Community College	8x Mainstream classrooms: 6x Special education tuition rooms:1x Science lab and prep area:1x Graphics room:1x Home economics room	Stage 1
61682A	Newbridge	Holy Family Secondary School	8x Mainstream classrooms;1x Music room:1x Textiles room:3x Science labs and 2x Prep areas:1x Graphics room:1x Home economics room:4x Special education classrooms	Stage 1
91371B	Leixlip	Colaiste Chiaraín	New School building to cater for 1000 Pupils and 4x Special education classrooms on a campus with Leixleip ETNS	Stage 1
91505T	Celbridge	St Wolstan's Community School	9x Mainstream classrooms, 4x Special education tuition rooms, 1x Office, 1x Technology room and Prep area, 2x Science labs and prep area, 1x Art room and project store, 1x Music room, 2x Special education classrooms and 1x Canteen	Stage 1
70710D	Naas	Piper's Hill College	Reconfiguration to facilitate opening of 1x Special education classroom	Stage 5
91505T	Celbridge	St Wolstan's Community School	Reconfiguration to create increased intake for students for September 2025	Stage 4
76194S	Naas	Naas Community College	1x special education classroom	Stage 4

Details of large-scale projects being delivered under the school building programme may be viewed on my department's website at www.gov.ie and this information is updated regularly. In addition, a list of large-scale projects completed from 2010 to date may also be viewed on the website.

The department will continue to liaise with Kildare County Council in respect of their county development plan and any associated local area plans with a view to identifying any potential long-term school accommodation requirements across school planning areas.