Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 May 2026
353. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of applications currently being processed for capital works; the breakdown of these per county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41106/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm to the Deputy, that my department’s website, www.gov.ie, contains up to date information relating to the progression of projects throughout the country. The information is available for both additional school accommodation and large scale major projects. Since 2020, my department has invested over €6.9 billion in our schools throughout the country under the National Development Plan, involving the completion of over 1,400 school building projects along with over 4,000 small-scale improvement works to meet priority maintenance needs and advance energy efficiency and climate goal.
The department will continue to build on this progress with the continued rollout of projects on a prioritised basis to meet the most urgent needs under the €7.55 billion National Development Sectoral Investment Plan for the Education and Youth Sectors for the period 2026 to 2030. While the plan has a strong emphasis on maximising existing capacity, my department continues to engage with school authorities regarding applications from numerous avenues of funding under the NDP such as the Additional School Accommodation scheme, Climate Action Summer Works and Emergency Works schemes and Special Education Needs Repurposing scheme. The decision to initiate a large-scale project is department led in consultation with school authorities and primarily based on demographic projections on the future demand for school places to determine when and where to expand school capacity. Major capital works must also be considered in the context of climate action commitments. The plan for identifying opportunities to transform existing schools at national scale will be informed by the outcome of an Energy and Condition survey of all schools which is due for completion this year.
In addition, my department is planning for the introduction of an increase in the minor works grant funding at primary level and December 2028/January 2029 is being set as the planned payment timeline for this. At that stage my department also plans to introduce a minor works grant at post-primary level. This will be the first time a minor works grant will be a standard feature at post-primary level and will be key in supporting a good maintenance regime. Engagement will commence in 2026 with relevant stakeholders to develop an appropriate methodology for targeting this increased investment on maintenance of the school estate that will be based on data from the Department’s energy and condition survey of the school estate.
