Grace Boland
Ceist:111. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on a new school building (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70742/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 11 December 2025
Ceisteanna (111)
Freagraí scríofa
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. This includes circa €1.66 billion invested in schools across County Dublin.
The project brief for Rush National School includes the construction of a new 2-storey, 32 classroom school along with provision for children with special educational needs. The project has experienced significant challenges to date, including a previous appeal to An Bord Pleanála and changes to building regulations that impacted on project timelines. Extended project timelines meant that a revised planning application was required and this has been lodged with the local authority. A new tender process will also be needed in respect of the new plans.
As part of the revised planning application the Design Team included new decarbonisation measures in accordance with Technical Design Guidance. The updated tender documents will also include updated Mechanical and Electrical requirements in accordance with decarbonisation measures, and compliance with any statutory requirements. The inclusion of these new climate action measures will bring significant benefits to the school.
Government departments are currently in the process of publishing their sectoral NDP Implementation Plans. The sectoral plan for the Education and Youth sector will be published next week and the first tranche of projects to progress to construction will be published in January. This NDP Implementation 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.