Tuesday, 30 Sep 2025

Schools Building Projects

Ceisteanna (442)

John Connolly

Ceist:

442. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the development of a new school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51329/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Youth

The major building project referred to by the Deputy is being delivered as part of my Department’s ADAPT Programme.

The ADAPT Programme uses a professional external Project Manager to achieve the best possible timeframe for the project through the stages of Architectural Planning to Tender and Construction.

The brief for this major project is to provide a New 16 Classroom School & 2 classrooms for children with special educational needs, at the existing site in Moycullen. The Board of Management have acquired additional land to accommodate a new build.

The project is at completion of Stage 2(b) of the architectural design process. Stage 2(b) involves detailed design, securing all statutory approvals and the preparation of tender documentation. Planning Permission was secured in May 2023.

In July the Government announced a capital allocation of €7.55 billion for the Department of Education and Youth 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 roll-out 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 roll-out over the course of 2026 to 2030 period to meet the most urgent and prioritised needs.

My department is now preparing an NDP implementation plan which is due for publication later in the Autumn. This 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.

Schools Building Projects

Ceisteanna (443)

John Connolly

Ceist:

443. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the development of a new school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51330/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Youth

The joint major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently at an early stage of architectural planning - Stage 1 – Preliminary Design, which includes an assessment of the site and location suitability, and initial sketch scheme. This project is being delivered as part of the Departments ADAPT Programme.

The ADAPT Programme uses a professional external Project Manager to co-ordinate and drive the Design Team to achieve the best possible timeframe for the project through the stages of Architectural Planning to Tender and Construction.

The project brief is for the delivery of 2 new replacement 24 classroom primary schools and classrooms for pupils with special educational needs, at the existing site in Renmore, the demolition of the existing buildings, and removal of the current temporary accommodation.

The Stage 1 site assessment and proposed design options were under review by the Design Team. The Design Team had also conducted a further review of all decant options within the red line boundary of the current school and have submitted a Stage 1 Addendum report to the Department for consideration.

In July the Government announced a capital allocation of €7.55 billion for the Department of Education and Youth 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 roll-out 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 roll-out over the course of 2026 to 2030 period to meet the most urgent and prioritised needs.

My department is now preparing an NDP implementation plan which is due for publication later in the Autumn. This 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.

Workplace Relations Commission

Ceisteanna (444)

John Connolly

Ceist:

444. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Education and Youth the current status of talks commenced at the Workplace Relations Commission (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51333/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Youth

Recognising the vitally important role of secretaries and caretakers within school communities, I and my officials have been working intensively with stakeholders, with the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) and with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, to establish a platform for meaningful discussion and resolution. I believe that all parties have a responsibility to make sure that these talks succeed and that both sides must come together with an open mind without preconditions or preconceived ideas of a final outcome.

Officials from my Department are engaging with Fórsa under the auspices of the WRC to progress this matter. This is a confidential process, and as with any industrial relations process the matters under discussion are confidential.

Departmental Expenditure

Ceisteanna (445)

Aidan Farrelly

Ceist:

445. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Education and Youth the amount expended on cloud storage solutions in the past five years and to date in 2025; and if she will provide the data storage supplier, in tabular form. [51361/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Youth

A five-year breakdown by supplier, of annual expenditure incurred by my Department on cloud storage solutions is set out in the table below.

Supplier	Amount expended on cloud storage solutions 2020 (Inc VAT)	Amount expended on cloud storage solutions 2021 (Inc VAT)	Amount expended on cloud storage solutions 2022 (Inc VAT)	Amount expended on cloud storage solutions 2023 (Inc VAT)	Amount expended on cloud storage solutions 2024 (Inc VAT)	Amount expended on cloud storage solutions 2025 - YTD End August (Inc VAT)	Total
Microsoft Azure	€0	€0	€12,191.97	€36,933.66	€66,405.90	€73,692.53	€189,224.06
DropBox	€8,302.50	€8,302.50	€8,302.50	€8,302.50	€9,963	€9,963	€53,136.00
Rackspace	€0	€140.97	€3,691.04	€3,608.95	€3,504.86	€2,943.29	€13,889

Overall Total including VAT							€256,249.17

Health and Safety

Ceisteanna (446)

Michael Cahill

Ceist:

446. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Youth to urgently provide funding towards addressing a major health and safety issue in the vicinity of a school in County Kerry (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51375/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Youth

The school referred to by the Deputy was approved to enter the departments pipeline of school buildings for a project to provide the removal of existing prefabricated buildings and replacement with a two-storey extension consisting of 3 mainstream classrooms, 7 SET resource rooms and a 3 classroom base SEN unit, along with all associated facilities and site services, which includes revised car parking and set down facilities.

A Stage 3 Tender Report has recently being received in my department and is being reviewed from both a technical and cost perspective in accordance with the requirements of the Public Spending Code. All projects, including this one, will undergo the necessary due diligence outlined in the public Infrastructure Guidelines. Managing timing, scope, and cost is crucial to staying within budgetary limits for the overall ASA program.

All traffic management issues identified and formally signed off at the pretender stage will be addressed as part of the construction phase of the project. Any additional health and safety concerns arising outside the scope of the school building project must be applied for and managed through the emergency works scheme procedures.

Upon completion of this tender review process my Department officials will communicate with the school authority regarding the next steps to advance this significant project.

Departmental Policies

Ceisteanna (447)

Michael Healy-Rae

Ceist:

447. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Youth her plans to alter how special needs assistants can use their parental leave due to difficulties experienced by those educators (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51396/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Youth

The Parental Leave Scheme for SNAs is outlined in Circular 0027/2013 and Information Note TC/IN 0011/2023 and is regulated by the Parental Leave Act 1998, as amended.

Under the terms of the Parental Leave Act 1998, as amended, an employee who is a relevant parent in respect of a child is entitled to a maximum of 26 weeks Parental Leave in respect of each child up to the age of 16 years. The purpose of Parental Leave is to allow a parent a period of unpaid leave to care for their child.

The act provides that this leave may be taken in a continuous period consisting of not less than 6 weeks and not exceeding 26 weeks.

The act provides that with the agreement of the employer or representatives of the employer and other employers and the employee or representatives of the employee and other employees, the leave can be taken in a number of shorter periods.

Currently, as agreed in accordance with the terms of the legislation, an SNA may avail of Parental Leave in blocks of at least one week up to the maximum of 26 weeks. Each period of Parental Leave must be a minimum duration of 7 consecutive days including weekends, school closures and days on which an SNA is not timetabled for attendance occurring within that period.

In certain circumstances an SNA may avail of Parental Leave in the form of individual days where a child has particular medical problems that require the attendance of a parent with the child at a hospital, clinic or therapeutic appointment on a regular basis. Please note that under the terms of the Parental Leave Scheme, these are the only circumstances that allow an employer to grant a special pattern of Parental Leave.

The SNA Industrial Relations Forum, provides a forum for claims and proposals relating to the salary and other terms and conditions of service for SNAs which is made up of Fórsa representatives, along with School Management Bodies representatives and the Department of Education and Youth. The current terms and conditions of the Parental Leave Scheme for SNAs exists by virtue of a collective agreement at the SNA IR Forum.

Fórsa have submitted a claim on behalf of SNA’s to amend the pattern of Parental Leave and the Department is currently engaged with Fórsa and the School Management Bodies in relation to this claim.

School Transport

Ceisteanna (448)

Louis O'Hara

Ceist:

448. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 536 of 17 September 2025, if students can avail of an existing school bus route between Loughrea and Ballinasloe (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51449/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Youth

Bus Éireann is responsible for the planning and timetabling of school transport routes. Bus Éireann endeavours, within available resources, to ensure that each eligible child has a reasonable level of school transport service in the context of the Scheme nationally. Bus Éireann are required to tender services in line with procurement guidelines and are responsible for the allocating and vetting of a contractor to operate services.

Officials in the School Transport Section of my Department have made further enquiries with Bus Eireann on the status of the service that has been sanctioned to cater for the two pupils referred to by the Deputy. Bus Éireann have advised that the service is still in procurement process but the local office hope to have an update in the coming days.

Enquiries have also been made regarding the pupils joining an existing service as mentioned by the Deputy. Regrettably, this request cannot be accommodated due to timing issues.

Departmental Funding

Ceisteanna (449)

Brian Stanley

Ceist:

449. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will increase the capitation grant for primary schools in Budget 2026, to ensure schools can meet basic operational costs without relying on voluntary contributions from parents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51452/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Youth

The Government is committed to increasing funding to support schools, and the Programme for Government commits to increasing capitation funding to schools of all types to ensure that schools can meet the elevated day-to-day running costs.

The commitment in the Programme for Government builds on the progress which has been made in recent years, including an over €30 million permanent increase in capitation funding to assist schools now and longer term with increased day-to-day running costs through Budget 2025. This represents an increase of circa 12% on current standard rates and enhanced rates. This has resulted in the standard rates increasing from €200 to €224 for primary schools and from €345 to €386 per student in post-primary schools with effect from September 2025. Over the last two Budgets there has been a circa 22% increase in the level of capitation grant rates paid to schools. Enhanced rates are also paid in respect of pupils with special educational needs and Traveller pupils.

The Department is committed to providing funding to recognised primary and post-primary schools in the Free Education Scheme by way of per capita grants. The two main grants are the capitation grant to cater for day-to-day running costs such as heating, lighting, cleaning, insurance and general up-keep, and the ancillary grant to cater for the cost of employing ancillary services staff. Schools have the flexibility to use capitation funding provided for general running costs and ancillary funding provided for caretaking and secretarial services as a common grant from which the Board of Management can allocate according to its own priorities, except for the employment of relevant secretaries as per Circular 0036/2022.

The current standard rate of capitation grant is €224 per pupil in primary schools and €386 per student in post-primary schools. Primary schools with fewer than 60 pupils are paid the capitation and the ancillary grants on the basis of having 60 pupils.

In addition to these grants, €45 million in cost-of-living supports issued in November 2024 to support all recognised primary and post-primary schools in the Free Education Scheme. This additional funding announced in Budget 2025 is designed to assist schools with increased day-to-day running costs such as heating and electricity. This funding was paid at a rate of €36 per pupil in primary schools and €55 per student in post-primary schools. Enhanced rates were also paid in respect of pupils with special educational needs and Traveller pupils. Schools should also ensure that they are availing of the available OGP procurement frameworks and getting best value for money for all school expenditure.

The manner in which voluntary contributions are sought and collected is a matter for school management. Their collection, however, must not create a situation where parents or pupils could infer the contributions are compulsory in nature. While schools may request a voluntary contribution from parents, it must be made expressly clear to parents that there is no requirement to pay this cost. Voluntary contributions by parents of pupils enrolled in recognised schools are permissible provided it is made absolutely clear to parents that there is no requirement to pay and that, in making a contribution, they are doing so of their own volition.

Section 64 of the Education (Admissions to schools) Act 2018, explicitly prohibits the charging of admission and enrolment fees for admission to, or for continued enrolment in a school.

The Department is aware that costs and funding can pose a problem for schools, and is constantly working to address this matter, and to enhance the financial and other supports available to schools. While not wishing to pre-empt the outcomes of any future Budget negotiations or fiscal parameters agreed by Government, the Department will continue to seek and prioritise the funding required to meet the ongoing costs of running schools.

The Financial Support Services Unit (FSSU), funded by the Department, is an important source of advice and support to schools on financial matters, including budgeting and cashflow management. Contact details for FSSU can be found on www.fssu.ie.

Departmental Policies

Ceisteanna (450)

Ryan O'Meara

Ceist:

450. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will consider allowing primary school teachers who have been on the supplementary panel for an extended period to apply for the main panel; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51454/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Youth

The core function of the redeployment arrangements is to facilitate the redeployment of all surplus permanent/CID holding teachers, to other schools that have vacancies.

At primary level, schools are required under the panel arrangements to fill their vacancies from the Main Redeployment Panel. Once all teachers on the Main Panel have been redeployed, permanent vacancies are offered to teachers on the Supplementary Redeployment Panel, comprised of eligible fixed-term (temporary/substitute) and part-time teachers. At that point, fixed-term vacancies may be advertised through open competition.

Once a redeployment panel has been exhausted in an area, schools with permanent vacancies in that area may proceed to open competition to fill these vacancies. It is open to any teacher to apply for these vacancies as they arise.

The redeployment arrangements are reviewed each year, in consultation with the Education Partners, including the Teacher Union. Arrangements for next year’s redeployment will be reviewed towards the end of the year.

Schools Building Projects

Ceisteanna (451)

Aidan Farrelly

Ceist:

451. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update in respect of the development of a site (details supplied) for school buildings; the amount allocated to the project to date; the estimated year for delivery. [51455/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Youth

The Celbridge Campus Project referred to by the Deputy has been devolved for delivery to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) as part of a bundled school building programme.

It is currently at Stage 2a of the architectural design process. Stage 2a (the developed design stage) involves the Design Team developing the designs, fully cost planning the campus project and preparing the necessary documentation to facilitate the lodging for statutory approval to Kildare County Council as part of the Stage 2b process.

The length of time a project takes to deliver depends on several factors, including scale and complexity and is subject to the time it takes to progress through the various design stages and the statutory approval process.

My department is committed to ensuring appropriate school accommodation is available for all children in the Celbridge area and will in the wider context outlined, ensure that this project - as for all projects on our school building programme - is subject to the due diligence required under the public Infrastructure Guidelines.

Since 2020, my department has invested over €6 billion in our schools throughout the country under the National Development Plan, involving the completion of over 1,400 school building projects. Government support for this investment, including by way of supplementary capital funding, has delivered real benefits for school communities. Supplementary capital funding of €210 million approved by Government has brought the total capital allocation for 2025 for my department to €1.6 billion.

In July, the Government announced a capital allocation of €7.55 billion for the Department of Education and Youth for the period 2026-2030 under the National Development Plan. As part of this NDP allocation the 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 roll out 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 roll out over the course of 2026 to 2030 period to meet the most urgent and prioritised needs.

My department is now preparing an NDP implementation plan which is due for publication later in the Autumn. This 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 position on individual projects within the overall school building pipeline of projects evolves all the time and the current status of all projects are listed on a county-by-county basis at www.gov.ie.

This information is updated on a regular basis to reflect their progress through the various stages of capital appraisal, site acquisition, design, tender and construction.

Education and Training Provision

Ceisteanna (452)

Brendan Smith

Ceist:

452. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will give detailed consideration to the issues raised in correspondence regarding primary education (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51461/25]