Tuesday, 18 Nov 2025

Schools Refurbishment

Ceisteanna (491)

Eamon Scanlon

Ceist:

491. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the redevelopment of a school (details supplied) in Sligo; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63597/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Youth

The project for the school to which the Deputy refers, has been devolved to the school Board of Management for delivery, with the assistance of the Joint Managerial Body (JMB).

This major building project includes an extension, refurbishment and demolition works which will deliver 750 post primary school building.

The project is currently at Stage 2b. Stage 2b allows for detailed design/planning, obtaining the necessary statutory permissions and the preparation of tender documents.

As the project is still at an early stage in the delivery process, it is not possible at this time to give a date for its completion.

The Department is committed to ensuring appropriate accommodation is available for all pupils in Ursuline College 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 1,300 school building projects. 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.

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 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. It is planned that circa 80 school building projects will progress to construction across 2026 and 2027 as part of a 2-year rolling programme.

All Government departments are expected to publish their sectoral NDP Implementation Plans in November. My department’s 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.

School Admissions

Ceisteanna (492)

Ciarán Ahern

Ceist:

492. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware of difficulties parents in Dublin south-west are having in securing places for their children in local secondary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63598/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Youth

I can assure the Deputy that the provision of school places to meet the needs of children and young people at primary and post primary level, including children and young people with special educational needs is an absolute priority of mine.

My department uses data from a range of sources, including Child Benefit data, enrolments and information on new residential developments, to plan for school place needs.

The annual enrolment process for new Junior Infants at primary and new First Years at post-primary is a very large-scale operation that is transacted at close to 4,000 schools across the country, involving some 140,000 pupils. While my department is aware of enrolment pressures and demand for additional school places in some areas, it is important to note that enrolment pressures can be driven by duplications of applications, applications from outside an area, and school of choice factors. Notwithstanding the above, in some areas, demographic pressures and other factors are driving a requirement for additional school places.

Furthermore, the data sharing arrangements that were in place for the 2025/26 admissions process have been put in place again for the 2026/27 admissions process in school planning areas that are experiencing enrolment pressures, including particular school planning areas of Dublin south-west constituency. The admissions data provided by schools will allow the department to analyse duplicate applications as there can be significant overlap in areas.

As per my departments analysis of Dublin south-west, for the 2024/25 academic year there were more first year places available than 6th class children and 5.7% of first year places were unfilled.

The Deputy will appreciate that there can often be significant overlap across areas and schools, and the nature of the admissions processes is quite complex. As a result, there can be multiple iterations, where applicants may accept a place but subsequently be offered and accept a place at a second school, freeing up capacity at the first school accepted. In that context, is may take some time for my department to fully review the availability of post-primary school places in Dublin south-west constituency while the admissions process continues to progress.

My department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in the area. In relation to school admissions, it is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998.

Parents have the right to choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available the pupil should be admitted. However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available a selection process may be necessary. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants. However, this may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.

I can assure the Deputy that my department will continue to keep the school place requirements in the Dublin south-west school planning areas, as with other areas across the country, under review.

School Admissions

Ceisteanna (493)

Ciarán Ahern

Ceist:

493. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Education and Youth to examine a case for a person (details supplied) regarding a school place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63599/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Youth

My department’s main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in the area. Parents have the right to choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available for the relevant year, the student should be admitted. However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available, a selection process will be necessary. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants. However, this may result in some students not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.

In accordance with the provisions of the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018, schools are required to clearly set out their selection criteria in their admission policies. The criteria to be applied by schools and the order of priority are a matter for the schools themselves. It is an important feature of the act that schools can only make a decision on an application for admission that is based on the school’s admission policy.

Under Section 29 of the Education Act 1998, the parent of the student, or in the case of a student who has reached the age of 18 years, the student, may appeal a decision of this school to refuse admission. An appeal may be made under Section 29 (1)(c)(i) of the Education Act 1998 where the refusal to admit was due to the school being oversubscribed. An appeal may be made under Section 29 (1)(c)(ii) of the Education Act 1998 where the refusal to admit was due a reason other than the school being oversubscribed.

Tusla Education Support Service (TESS) is the agency which can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for their child. Educational Welfare Services (EWS) contact details are: tessinfo@tusla.ie or telephone: 01 7718815.

Departmental Legal Cases

Ceisteanna (494)

Malcolm Byrne

Ceist:

494. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Youth the total legal costs in defending judicial reviews of planning decisions involving her Department and/or agencies within the aegis of her Department for each of the years 2020 to 2024 and to date in 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63618/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Youth

As the query crosses a number of sections within my Department it will take some time to review and prepare the response which will issue to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Schools Building Projects

Ceisteanna (495)

Claire Kerrane

Ceist:

495. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Education and Youth when a school (details supplied) will progress to build; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63662/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Youth

The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is now at an advanced stage of Architectural Planning - Stage 2(b) - Detailed Design, which includes the application for statutory approvals, which have been secured, and the preparation of tender documents.

My department received the Stage 2b submission report from the Design Team earlier this year in March 2025. My department commenced a detailed review of this report by the multi disciplinary team and comments were issued to the Design Team requesting clarification. The Design Team have addressed these comments and the responses to those queries are currently under ongoing detailed review.

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 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. It is planned that circa 80 school building projects will progress to construction across 2026 and 2027 as part of a 2-year rolling programme.

All Government departments are expected to publish their sectoral NDP Implementation Plans in November. The department’s 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.

Departmental Data

Ceisteanna (496)

Seán Crowe

Ceist:

496. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of post-primary school places in the Dublin south west area in the 2025-2026 academic year; the number of children who did not receive a place in this academic year; and the number of places her Department estimates will be required by 2030. [63673/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Youth

I can assure the Deputy that the provision of school places to meet the needs of children and young people at primary and post primary level, including children and young people with special educational needs is an absolute priority of mine.

As the Deputy may be aware, 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.

The annual enrolment process for new Junior Infants at primary and new First Years at post-primary is a very large-scale operation that is transacted at close to 4,000 schools across the country, involving some 140,000 pupils. While my department is aware of enrolment pressures and demand for additional school places in some areas, it is important to note that enrolment pressures can be driven by duplications of applications, applications from outside an area, and school of choice factors. Notwithstanding the above, in some areas, demographic pressures and other factors are driving a requirement for additional school places.

Furthermore, the data sharing arrangements that were in place for the 2025/26 admissions process have been put in place again for the 2026/27 admissions process in school planning areas that are experiencing enrolment pressures, including particular school planning areas of Dublin south-west constituency. The admissions data provided by schools will allow the department to analyse duplicate applications as there can be significant overlap in areas.

As per my departments analysis of Dublin south-west, for the 2024/25 academic year there were more first year places available than 6th class children and 5.7% of first year places were unfilled.

The Deputy will appreciate that there can often be significant overlap across areas and schools, and the nature of the admissions processes is quite complex. As a result, there can be multiple iterations, where applicants may accept a place but subsequently be offered and accept a place at a second school, freeing up capacity at the first school accepted. In that context, is may take some time for my department to fully review the availability of post-primary school places in Dublin south-west constituency while the admissions process continues to progress.

The availability of places is a matter for each individual school in the context of their Admissions legislation. Enrolment data for previous school years is available on the Department website. Enrolment data for the 2024/25 school year is available of the Departments website at www.gov.ie. The specific information requested is not available at this time.

Parents have the right to choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available the pupil should be admitted. However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available a selection process may be necessary. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants. However, this may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice.

I can assure the Deputy that my department will continue to keep the school place requirements in the Dublin south-west school planning areas, as with other areas across the country, under review.

Departmental Data

Ceisteanna (497)

Seán Crowe

Ceist:

497. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide details of the 39 schools that are being built or expanded in the south Dublin area; and the number of additional school places that each will provide, in tabular form. [63674/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Youth

The table below lists the 39 school building projects which are in construction in Dublin South. These projects when completed will deliver in excess of 3,700 new and modernised school places across post primary, primary and special education schools.

School Building Projects In Construction in South Dublin

No.	Roll Number	School Name	Townland	School Level	Project Type
1	18585H	SN Banrion Na nAingeal 1	Ballyfermot	Primary	Extension
2	18817C	SN Brighde	Ranelagh	Primary	Extension
3	18843D	Bainríon na Aingeal 2	Ballyfermot	Primary	Extension
4	19319O	St. Olaf's NS	Dundrum	Primary	Extension
5	60041D	Coláiste Eoin	Stillorgan	Post Primary	Extension
6	60792C	Presentation College	Dublin 8	Post Primary	Extension
7	60841M	Rosary College	Crumlin	Post Primary	Extension
8	18647D	SN San Treasa	Mount Merrion	Primary	Extension & Refurbishment
9	19319O	St. Olaf's NS	Dundrum	Primary	Modular Project
10	19764M	Our Lady of Wayside NS	Bluebell	Primary	Modular Project
11	19837N	Drimnagh Castle CBS NS	Walkinstown	Primary	Modular Project
12	19878E	Holy Rosary Primary School	Tallaght	Primary	Modular Project
13	20543D	Sallynoggin ETNS	Sallynoggin	Primary	Modular Project
14	20563J	Libermann Spiritan School	Templeogue	Special Education	Modular Project
15	60261R	St. Benildus College	Stillorgan	Post Primary	Modular Project
16	19355S	Ballyowen Meadows	Dún Laoghaire	Special Education	New School Building
17	19702N	St. Thomas JNS	Tallaght	Primary	New School Building
18	20028K	Setanta Special School	Greenhills	Special Education	New School Building
19	20441S	Shellybanks ETNS	Sandymount	Primary	New School Building
20	20520O	Harold's Cross ETNS	Harolds Cross	Primary	New School Building
21	68305F	Sandymount Park ETSS	Sandymount	Post Primary	New School Building
22	68365A	Harolds Cross ETSS	Harolds Cross	Post Primary	New School Building
23	20103V	John Scottus NS	Ballsbridge	Primary	Refurbishment Only
24	19466E	St. Kevin's GNS	Kilnamanagh	Primary	SEN Repurposing
25	19613O	Scoil Cnoc Mhuire Senior School	Tallaght	Primary	SEN Repurposing
26	60070K	Dominican College	Blackrock	Post Primary	SEN Repurposing
27	91343T	St. Tiernan's Community School	Balally	Post Primary	SEN Repurposing
28	19446V	Scoil Mhuire Boys	Rathfarnham	Primary	SEN Repurposing
29	19463V	Scoil Maelruain SNS	Old Bawn	Primary	SEN Repurposing
30	19646G	Scoil Santain	Tamlacht	Primary	SEN Repurposing
31	19872P	Scoil Chaitlín Maude	Tallaght	Primary	SEN Repurposing
32	20103V	John Scottus NS	Ballsbridge	Primary	SEN Repurposing
33	20397S	St. Louise de Marillac PS	Ballyfermot	Primary	SEN Repurposing
34	20501K	Harcourt Terrace ETNS	Rathmines	Primary	SEN Repurposing
35	20545H	St. Christopher's NS	Ballsbridge	Primary	SEN Repurposing
36	20571I	St. Louis NS	Rathmines	Primary	SEN Repurposing
37	60562I	Templeogue College	Templeogue	Post Primary	SEN Repurposing
38	70140L	Firhouse Community College	Firhouse	Post Primary	SEN Repurposing
39	91337B	Killinarden Community School	Tallaght	Post Primary	SEN Repurposing

School Accommodation

Ceisteanna (498)

Brian Brennan

Ceist:

498. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the status of the emergency works application for a school (details supplied); when a decision will be made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63679/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Youth

The school to which the Deputy refers submitted an application for funding under the Emergency Works Scheme (EWS) for external environment works on 24 October 2025.

The application in question is currently being reviewed by the technical area within the EWS. Once a technical recommendation has been received back from the technical team, the EWS team will engage further with the school as appropriate. The EWS team is aware of the urgent nature of the works required and will keep the school informed throughout the process.

Question No. 499 answered with Question No. 467.

Special Educational Needs

Ceisteanna (500)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Ceist:

500. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Youth for the trainings that are in place for bus drivers in State-funded bus services for disabled children, including privately contracted bus services, in particular school transport for special schools and special classes contracted through Bus Éireann, with respect to behaviours of concern and the needs of disabled passengers. [63700/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Youth

The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth.

The scheme is operated using a mix of Bus Éireann owned vehicles and directly recruited drivers, and private contractors who recruit their own drivers to operate on the scheme.

As part of the operation of the scheme, Bus Éireann manages the procurement tender process and contract management arrangements to include services provided by contractors under the School Transport Scheme.

The competitive procurement process is conducted in accordance with the negotiated procedure under national and EU procurement legislation.

As over 90% of school bus services are contracted locally, each contractor recruits school bus drivers directly.

Bus Éireann has advised that, as part of their contractual requirements, school bus drivers must submit a copy of their Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) certificate or Small Public Service Vehicle (SPSV) licences. For professional drivers, the CPC provides various training with regards to passengers with disabilities, specifically in modules 2, 3 and 6. Similarly, the SPSV provides a safeguarding and disability awareness professional development course.

Each contractor is responsible for ensuring that all the required training has been provided to their drivers and that all the necessary licences and professional standards are in place. The safety of children and young people using the school transport scheme is of paramount importance.

Applicants who are vetted and approved by Bus Éireann are issued with an electronic copy of Bus Éireann’s Code of Conduct and Child Safeguarding Policy Booklet.

Where a parent/guardian has a concern regarding their child’s school transport service, they can contact Bus Éireann directly.

Residential Institutions

Ceisteanna (501)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Ceist:

501. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she plans to honour all commitments made to a group of hunger strikers who have recently concluded their strike following agreement with her Department. [63738/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Youth

The Taoiseach and I met again with the group referred to by the Deputy on Monday 10 November. This followed on from previous meetings held and the mediation process that had been put in place. We further discussed the issues of concern to the survivors and noted progress that had been made in seeking a resolution. The group was provided with a letter from the Taoiseach which outlined the position.

Following this the group agreed to cease their hunger strike protest and to use the mediation process to work through the detail on the various issues. The aim is to conclude that process as soon as possible.

Departmental Circulars

Ceisteanna (502)

Barry Ward

Ceist:

502. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth the actions she will take to address an anomaly related to circular 54/2019; if a teacher has moved schools in the past 12-months, regardless of previous employment status or length of tenure, they cannot qualify for carer’s leave; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63754/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Youth

The Carer’s Leave Scheme is regulated by the Carer’s Leave Act 2001, as amended.

The terms and conditions of the Carer's Leave Scheme for teachers are outlined in Chapter 6 of my Department's Circular 0054/2019 titled ‘Leave Schemes for Registered Teachers employed in Recognised Primary and Post-Primary Schools’. Under section 24 of the Education Act 1998 (as amended by the Education (Amendment) Act 2012) the board of management is the employer of teachers, SNAs and other staff of the school. In the case of community national schools, the ETB is the employer and not the board of management

Under the terms of the circular, a teacher may apply for Carer’s Leave where he/she has satisfactorily completed one year’s continuous service with the current employer. This requirement is waived where a teacher is compulsorily redeployed into a school or where a school is amalgamated provided that he/she has worked at least one full year in his/her former school prior to redeployment/amalgamation.

As the scheme is regulated by the Carer’s Leave Act 2001, as amended, it is not within the remit of the Department of Education and Youth to amend the eligibility criteria set out in the Act.

Special Educational Needs

Ceisteanna (503)

Michael Cahill

Ceist:

503. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Youth to improve pay and conditions for special needs assistants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63795/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Youth

SNAs are valued members of our school communities who carry out vital work in our schools supporting students with diverse needs. The Government is committed to the delivery of quality public services and continues to approach public service pay in a balanced way that is reasonable and fair to both public servants and to the taxpayer. This has been achieved through a series of national collective agreements, agreed between trade unions and the Government, applying across the public sector.

Circular 0056/2025 confirms that SNAs are covered under the Public Service Agreement 2024–2026 (PSA) which applies to all public servants. The PSA builds on the previous agreement “Building Momentum” which ended in 2023 to provide for a number of pay increases that have been approved by Government. The pay element of the PSA includes further increases of 9.25% up to June 2026.

As is standard practice, discussions with public service unions continue on all matters relating to pay agreements. Any review of terms and conditions including pay and pensions for SNAs will follow these established processes and be considered in detail by the Department of Education and Youth, the Department of Public Expenditure Infrastructure Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and the relevant unions.

The terms and conditions of employment for Special Needs Assistants are issued in accordance with their individual SNA contracts. Please refer to Circulars 15/2005 and 12/2005 for further details. My department has commenced work on the first SNA Workforce Development Plan which includes a review of the SNA employment contract. The review of the SNA employment contract is a commitment set out in the (previous) public service pay agreement Building Momentum 1 and Building Momentum 2 Clause 1.5.3 (2). The most recent Public Service Agreement 2024 to 2026, outlines that the SNA contract review is one of key elements of the Government’s Reform Agenda.

The review involves an update of provisions in the existing SNA employment contract to comply with current employment legislation and align with other work on the plan. More information on the SNA Workforce Development plan is available on the SNA Information Hub on www.gov.ie.

Special Educational Needs

Ceisteanna (504)

Michael Cahill

Ceist:

504. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Youth to ensure that all new school builds include an autism class; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63796/25]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Youth

Dedicated classrooms for students with special education needs are now included as standard in all new accommodation briefs for new school buildings and major extension projects. The department would normally include two special education needs classes with a new eight classroom primary school and increase the number of special education classes based on the size of the primary school being provided. Similarly with a new 1,000 student post-primary school, the department is now looking to include six special education classes.

Furthermore, my department is progressing urgent building projects that involve the repurposing of existing space in schools for special education purposes. These projects will ensure that existing school capacity is optimised and that teaching spaces are adaptable and flexible to facilitate a student-centred approach to learning. Potential repurposing options will be school and site specific, presenting different opportunities and challenges.

To support the delivery of these classes, a new streamlined approach to funding was made available to repurpose accommodation for special education. A special education start up grant of €30,000 for each new special education classroom sanctioned and opened for the 2025/26 school year was payable to the school directly following receipt of the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) notification of the sanctioned classes. Additional funding for small scale repurposing works up to a maximum of €70,000 per class was also available to schools on an application basis. Further information on special education repurposing supports can be accessed on www.gov.ie.

Departmental Data

Ceisteanna (505, 506, 507, 508, 509, 510, 511, 512, 513)

In view of this I have forwarded your requests to the SEC for direct response to you.

Question No. 506 answered with Question No. 505.

Question No. 507 answered with Question No. 505.

Question No. 508 answered with Question No. 505.

Question No. 509 answered with Question No. 505.

Question No. 510 answered with Question No. 505.