Written Answers Nos. 290-308
291. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the amount spent in the years 2020 to 2025 on prefabricated classrooms, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68863/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is currently being compiled by my department and will be provided as soon as possible.
292. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of schools where asbestos was found to be present, and the amount spent on the management and removal of asbestos in schools, between 2020 and 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68864/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI should explain that applications relating to the provision of funding for issues relating to an existing school building, including for asbestos remediation, can fall under a number of different delivery mechanisms including, most frequently, the Emergency Works Scheme.
The purpose of the Emergency Works Scheme (EWS) is 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 Department does not have a centralised record of schools where asbestos has been removed and the associated costings. It may be the case that the asbestos discovery and removal has been instigated by other works in a school.
Where asbestos is discovered it is dealt with in accordance with the appropriate guidelines.
Please note that it is open to a school to make an application for EWS funding for an emergency situation in their school. Schools can do this by completing the online Emergency Works Application Form available through the Esinet system.
294. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Youth the interest her Department has in the building that formerly housed a school (details supplied). [68952/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe property referred to by the Deputy is not owned by my department, however, there is a charging lease in place on the property to secure the department's interest in the property.
In circumstances where a property has ceased to be used as a school, and a request is received from the property owner to release the State's interest secured under a charging lease, such requests are considered in the context of the specific circumstances which pertain to the individual property.
295. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her Department requires a minimal life expectancy for any modular building provided for schools; the nature of that requirement; and the average life expectancy of school modular buildings. [68953/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraModular accommodation is a feature of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) which describes a range of manufacturing and innovative alternatives to traditional construction. There are many benefits of adopting MMC in the school sector ranging from faster delivery of construction projects to minimising disruption in live school environments. My Department has recently established a new Modular Framework of suppliers with new design guidance which provides high quality school accommodation and increased sustainability to improve the energy performance of school accommodation, resulting in improved comfort, lower energy bills and reduced carbon emissions. Framework suppliers use factory controlled precision through digitalisation and strict quality control processes to create consistent quality construction.
This new modular framework with new design guidance requires the building system to have a design life of 60 years. The factory precision of MMC contributes to the ability of this form of construction to deliver consistently robust buildings which are easy to manage and maintain, providing high quality learning spaces for the students of today and the future.
296. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measures in place to reduce the administrative burden on school principals and deputy principals to allow them to focus more on the educational needs of their school community; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68954/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI recognise the key role school leadership in improving educational outcomes by creating a positive school climate and environment as well as motivating and empowering educators and learners within their school communities.
Recent improvements in relation to school management and leadership structures include:
• all primary schools with a teaching principal have a minimum of 37 Principal Release Days, that is, one administrative day per week. Schools with one special class have 4 additional release days, a total of 41 in the school year.
• schools with two special classes have administrative principal status regardless of enrolment.
• the Administrative Principal pupil threshold has been reduced from an enrolment of 178 to 169, with the Deputy Admin Principal threshold reduced from an enrolment of 655 to 573.
• Budget 2024 removed the threshold for the appointment of an Administrative Deputy Principal in special schools.
• the second teacher in two-teacher schools have Deputy Principal status as opposed to holding Assistant Principal II posts.
• Restoration of middle management positions were prioritised in recent Budgets with 500 additional AP II posts allocated to primary schools in the 2024/25 school year. For the 2025/26 school year, the equivalent of 500 AP II posts is being distributed as 110 AP I and 251 AP II for the purposes of fully restoring all PORs in primary schools.
297. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Youth her plans to resolve outstanding issues in respect of pension parity for school caretakers and secretaries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68988/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraRecognising the vitally important role of secretaries and caretakers within school communities, Department officials have been working intensively with stakeholders, with the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) and with the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, 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 pre-conceived ideas of a final outcome.
My Department has been engaging with Fórsa over the past number of weeks under the auspices of the WRC. The matter has now been referred to the Labour Court, and a hearing will take place on 12 January 2026. 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 the matters under discussion are confidential until this process concludes.
298. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth to confirm that a permanent school project (details supplied) will proceed to tendering as planned in the last quarter of 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68992/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra299. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth the timeline for the completion of a permanent school project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68993/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra300. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Education and Youth the position regarding the permanent school project for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68994/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 298, 299 and 300 together.
The project for the school referred to by the Deputy will provide a new 1,000 pupil post-primary school building and accommodation, including 4 classrooms, for children with special educational needs on the permanent site for the school. The project will be delivered under my Department's Design and Build Programme.
The decision to grant planning permission for the permanent school was received from An Bord Pleanála on 25th October 2023. The next stage for this school building project is tender stage.
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 shortly. 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.
The Department will continue to keep the school and its patron body updated on progress and next steps.
301. 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. [68995/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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 set out in my department's Circular 54/2019 and are based on the prescribed legislation. Under the terms of that 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 previously advised, as this scheme is based on legislation brought by the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (formerly Enterprise, Trade and Employment) it is not possible for this Department to amend the criteria.
302. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide the Department’s estimate of the current national shortfall in buses required to meet contractual and public-service obligations for school transport. [69688/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth.
The scheme is made up of three separate schemes, the school transport scheme for primary, post primary and for children with special educational needs.
The School Transport Scheme is a demand led scheme based on the number of children who apply. Bus Éireann review all applications and payments after the closing date and assess the vehicle and contractor requirement based on the location of eligible applicants. The scheme is operated using a mix of Bus Éireann owned vehicles and private contractor vehicles.
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. There are currently in the region of 8,600 vehicles operating on the 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, as part of a national focus on driver requirements, the Department facilitated a working group between the Department of Education and Youth, Department of Transport, Bus Éireann, and Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI) to increase the availability of drivers within both the school transport scheme and other public transport areas nationally, through existing and potential training schemes.
As a result of work undertaken by the working group, a taskforce was established which is chaired by the Department of Transport. The aim of the taskforce is to work collaboratively to identify contributing factors to the recruitment issues and put forward recommendations and measures to create a pipeline of workers to address these issues.
This taskforce is currently examining all challenges and opportunities to ensure a fully resourced transport workforce, such as drivers, mechanics, and craftworkers. All factors impacting issues such as recruitment, training and retention will be considered as a part of the taskforce’s work programme.
Bus Éireann has actively sought to recruit more contractors and drivers for the School Transport Scheme. A national and local media campaign was launched earlier this year to attract professional drivers. Further information can be found at: www.buseireann.ie/contractors.
303. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Culture; Communications and Sport given 2026 marks the 70th anniversary of Ronnie Delany winning gold in the 1500 metres at the Melbourne Summer Olympics, the facilities which are available for athletics in Arklow, County Wicklow, his home town; the support he will provide to develop such facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68583/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department operates two capital funding programmes for sport, namely the Community Sport Facilities Fund (CSFF) and the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF).
Over a quarter of a billion euro was allocated to 3,048 community sports clubs and facilities in 2024 from the 2023 round of the CSFF, representing the largest-ever investment in sports facilities in communities across Ireland. Since 2015, over €13.5 million has been allocated to athletics in Wicklow including €49,700 under the 2018 round for improvements at the running track in Arklow and a further allocation of €43,704 from the 2020 round for a walking/jogging track. I have asked my Department to prepare for a further round of the CSFF in 2026.
There have been two rounds of the LSSIF in 2018 and 2024. My current focus is on ensuring project delivery under the first two rounds of the LSSIF. No decisions have yet been made regarding the next round of LSSIF but local authorities and National Governing Bodies should be considering now what projects might best be submitted for consideration in a third LSSIF round.
304. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the current status of the An Post pension increase request, submitted in October 2025, within his Department; the timeframe in which he and his Department anticipate the pension approval process to conclude; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68655/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder section 46 of the Postal and Telecommunications Services Act 1983, the Minister for Culture, Communication and Sport with the concurrence of the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, approves any superannuation schemes submitted by An Post. The operation of the schemes is a matter between the management of An Post, staff representatives and the trustees of the schemes.
In accordance with the Act and the relevant Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies, An Post must seek Ministerial approval from both Ministers to increase pensions and deferred pensions for members of the An Post superannuation scheme. Section 2.13 of the Code of Practice for Governance of State Bodies Superannuation and Remuneration annex sets out that NewERA advice should be sought in respect of pension amendment proposals, as is appropriate in their role as commercial and financial advisors to the Ministers.
On 23 October 2025, An Post wrote to my Department requesting consent for an increase to pensions in payment and deferred pensions, arising from its agreements with employee representative groups. It is not possible, at this point, to set out the specific timeframe within which the decision-making process will be concluded by both shareholding Ministers in respect of increases submitted for consent. It should be recognised that the time taken for the pension approval process is necessary to ensure that robust governance procedures are in place.
305. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Culture; Communications and Sport when a new National Archives Advisory Council (NAAC) will be in-situ, given that the last NAAC expired in July 2022; and the plans to consult professional archive bodies (details supplied) in advance of the establishment of the new NAAC. [68881/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is currently engaging with the Public Appointments Service on undertaking a campaign to appoint members to the National Archives Advisory Council. This campaign will be advertised on the State Boards website and will be open to applicants with the relevant experience, including professional archivists.
306. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Culture; Communications and Sport to provide an update on the decommissioning of the legacy copper telephone and broadband networks; whether a timeline is in place; his Department's plans to ensure the general public are informed and prepared for the change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68965/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra307. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport the progress made to date by his Department in relation to the decommissioning of the copper broadband network, taking into account that the European Commission has set 2030 as the preferred deadline date for the complete switch-off of copper networks across Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68966/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 306 and 307 together.
The Government’s Digital Connectivity Strategy (DCS) aims to have all Irish households and businesses covered by a gigabit network by 2028.
The main copper network is owned by Eir (a private entity) and as such the ongoing operation and maintenance of this network is a matter for them. The process by which eir can retire this network is laid out in ComReg Decision D09/23, “Framework for the Migration from Legacy Infrastructure to Modern Infrastructure.”
The starting point of the transition process is by way of a proposal by Eircom (‘Eircom’s Switch-off Proposal’) providing ComReg with information on how Eircom plans to migrate from its legacy network to modern infrastructure. When ComReg is satisfied that Eircom’s Switch-off Proposal fulfils the Framework conditions set out in this Decision, ComReg will approve it at which point Eircom’s Switch-off Proposal becomes Eircom’s Switch-off Plan (the ‘Switch-off Plan’). The Framework for the transition from Legacy Infrastructure to Modern Infrastructure, consists of three phases: An Enablement Phase; A Migration and Switch-off Phase; and A Decommission Phase.
To date no plan has been approved by Comreg.
It should be noted that the timing of the switch-off is ultimately a commercial matter for Eir subject to it complying with the provisions of ComReg’s decision. However, the Department continues to engage with both ComReg, through a bilateral working group on Copper Switch Off, and Eir to keep apprised of any developments in this area.
308. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Culture; Communications and Sport the action his Department is taking to ensure that certain households are not left behind in the roll out of the National Broadband Plan, (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68967/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland's Digital Connectivity Strategy, published by my Department, sets ambitious targets, which include providing a Gigabit network to all households and businesses in Ireland by 2028 and access to 5G in all populated areas by 2030.
The Government is committed to the rollout of highspeed broadband across the country, and the National Broadband Plan (NBP) is the Government's initiative to deliver high speed broadband services to all premises in Ireland.
The National Broadband Plan (NBP) will be delivered through investment by commercial enterprises coupled with intervention by the State in those parts of the country (Intervention Area) where private companies have no plans to invest.
It is unclear from the question where in the country the query emanates from and whether it relates to the Intervention area (IA) (Amber) or to an area where HSBB is being delivered by commercial operators (Blue) on the broadband map which is available on www.gov.ie/en/publication/5634d-national-broadband-plan-map/, however I am advised by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) that there are over 564,000 premises in the IA and design work has been completed for 100% of these. NBI anticipated they would pass 420,000 premises by the end of 2025. NBI have exceeded that figure in already passing over 439,700 premises in the intervention area and are connecting on average 4,500 premises to their fibre network per month.
Along with the NBP intervention contract (with National Broadband Ireland (NBI)), progress is being made by commercial operators in expanding their next generation networks throughout the State and ensuring the targets set out in the Digital Connectivity 2022 strategy are achieved. The Department defines high-speed broadband as a connection with minimum speeds of 30Mbps download and 6Mbps upload.
Commercial Fixed line operators Open Eir, Virgin Media and SIRO are currently delivering or have plans to deliver high-speed broadband services in the blue area on the broadband map.
Commercial operators’ fibre rollouts are progressing at pace, open eir have already passed over 1.4 million homes. SIRO has recently reached a milestone of having passed over 700,000 premises for full fibre. Virgin Media plan to bring gigabit broadband upgrades to 1 million premises, to date it has passed 550,000 premises with full fibre. The activities of commercial operators delivering high-speed broadband within BLUE areas are not planned or funded by the State and the Department has no statutory authority to intervene in that regard.
