Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 May 2026
147. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her plan is not to open any more new schools in the next five years, if she will outline her plans to fulfil the Programme for Government commitment to open more Gaelcholáiste. [38160/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAt the outset, it is important to clarify that my department is fully committed to supporting Irish medium provision and in this regard has invested over €500m over the last 6 years in building new school buildings and modernising existing facilities for Irish medium schools. This investment has included the construction of 10 new school buildings for Irish medium schools during this period. Currently, there are 9 new school buildings under construction for Irish medium schools and a further 4 new school buildings have been prioritised for delivery over 2026 and 2027 as part of the national development plan.
My department will continue to support Irish medium provision as part of NDP rollout during the 2026 to 2030 period.
Demographic requirements in an area determine the need or otherwise for establishing new schools. While there are no Irish medium or indeed English medium schools planned currently (other than new special schools), this position is kept under constant review by my department. It is not therefore possible to be definitive at this stage on the need, or otherwise, for new schools over the next 5 years - it is just that there are none planned currently.
The pace and scale of housing rollout in an area determines local demographic requirements. My department’s approach is to manage this in the first instance through maximising existing capacity at existing schools and expanding them where needed. If this approach is insufficient to meet demographic requirements then consideration is given to establishing a new school. The process for establishing new schools provides an opportunity to assess the level of demand for Irish medium provision. However, it is worth noting that the general direction of travel on overall enrolments is downward and this creates significant capacity within existing schools to absorb increased demographics arising from housing rollout in most areas. My department keeps the position under constant review and liaises closely with local authorities on plans for housing development so that the school provision requirements can be planned.
My department’s primary school survey will also help to identify demand for Irish medium provision at individual school level which will assist with forward planning going in to the future.
