Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 March 2026
344. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Education and Youth the current status of the additional school accommodation applications submitted by a school (details supplied) in 2023 and again in 2025; the stage each application is presently at within the Planning and Building Unit; and when the school can expect a formal decision. [17953/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra345. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Education and Youth if interim modular accommodation will be approved for a school (details supplied) as an urgent measure ahead of September 2026, in light of projected enrolment growth and the school’s current lack of adequate teaching space. [17954/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra347. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is satisfied that the current accommodation at a school (details supplied) complies with her Department’s technical guidance documents, including TGD-022, TGD-020 and TGD-026; and if not, the immediate actions which will be taken to ensure compliance and safeguard pupil and staff welfare. [17956/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra348. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Education and Youth when a school (details supplied) last received capital investment from her Department; if she is aware that the 2000 extension is now affected by damp, leaks and mould; and the remedial works which will be undertaken to address these issues. [17957/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to takes Questions Nos. 344, 345, 347 and 348 together.
Minor Works Grants for the school year 2026/2027 was issued to all schools in December 2025. The school referred to by the Deputy also received funding in respect of repurposing accommodation for special education in 2024 to the value of €24,400, furniture and equipment in 2025 to the value of €13,500 and ICT funding this year to the value of €3,800. My department is also in receipt of an application for additional accommodation under the Additional Schools Accommodation scheme from the school referred to by the Deputy.
I have recently published the NDP Sectoral Investment Plan for the Education and Youth Sectors. This NDP Sectoral Plan involves a very strong emphasis on maximising existing capacity and the prioritisation of school building projects to meet the most urgent needs. Six school?projects in County Louth were included in the 105 prioritised projects in the first tranche of projects to progress to tender or construction over the course of 2026 and 2027. This list of projects were prioritised from those projects in the department’s pipeline which were sufficiently advanced to enable them to go to tender or construction over the course of 2026 and 2027.
While primary enrolments have been in decline nationally for many years and this trend is set to continue, the NDP Plan will seek to optimise outputs from the capital allocation, 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.
A department-led prioritisation process will continue over the course of 2026 and 2027 to assess and evaluate the progression of individual projects. This process will involve engagement with key stakeholders and individual schools. The completion of a department led Energy and Condition Survey for the entire school estate which is expected to be completed in 2026 will also provide an additional evidence base for the prioritisation process in addition to the department's technical guidance documents.
