Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 12 February 2026
114. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth when her Department will provide funding to build new schools for schools (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10944/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince 2020, my department has invested over €6 billion in schools across the country, including almost €72 million and €28 million on school buildings in counties Sligo and Leitrim respectively. There were 24 and 7 large scale and additional school accommodation projects completed in Sligo and Leitrim respectively during this period while a further 6 and 2 respectively are under construction currently. This level of capital investment in the school sector has been unprecedented.
The major building project to provide a new school building for the Gaelscoil referred to by the Deputy is being managed under the Department's ADAPT Programme. This large-scale school building project is currently at Stage 2a, where a developed sketch scheme is prepared by the project’s design team.
In relation to the accommodation at the amalgamated school referred to by the Deputy, my department has been working with the school authorities to address its accommodation needs, including with the provision of modular accommodation. In addition, a high-level technical assessment of potential solutions to cater for the longer-term requirements of the school community is currently being undertaken.
Capital investment in schools across the country will be informed in the context of the recently published €7.55 billion NDP Sectoral Investment Plan for the Education and Youth Sectors for the period 2026 to 2030.
There will be a clear and continued focus on Value for Money, affordability, and maximising existing capacity across the school estate. This will include carefully managing targeted and prioritised project approval and rollout to meet the most urgent needs across the sector within the parameters of available funding. This will have a focus on providing additional capacity where local school place needs cannot otherwise be met across schools in an area.
The department will continue to engage with relevant stakeholders, including the patrons of both schools referred to by the Deputy.
