Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. The school building programme is not under my remit. It is under the remit of the Minister but I am happy to take this Topical Issue today. If I had known about the three schools, I might have had information relating to them. However, it is important to say that since 2020, the Department has invested in the region of €4.3 billion in our schools throughout the country involving the completion of over 800 school building projects, of which 16 are in the Dublin 9 and Dublin 11 area. Construction is currently under way at approximately 300 other projects, of which five are in Dublin 9 and Dublin 11 area. Of these 300 projects, 33 are new school buildings. These 300 projects currently at construction involve a total State investment of over €1.2 billion. There are also close to 90 projects currently at the tender stage. These projects include a further 28 new school buildings. All of these new school buildings are flagship projects in their area and transform the education infrastructure for those school communities.

This is a record level of investment in our schools and highlights the Government's very strong track record of delivery in providing additional capacity and modern facilities for our school communities. It is underpinned by a robust school planning approach that uses a geographical information system to anticipate school place demand. Information from a range of sources, including child benefit data, school enrolment data and information on residential development activity, is utilised for this purpose. Additionally, Project Ireland 2040 population and housing targets inform the Department's projections of school place requirements.

On the basis of previous assessment of demographic trends and accommodation requirements, significant additional school capacity is already been delivered in the areas mentioned by the Deputy, including a new school building for Grace Park Educate Together National School. Further significant capacity is planned or in train, most notably the planned development of City of Dublin ETB's Whitehall campus, which will provide a new 1,000-pupil building for Clonturk College. The Deputy mentioned about wanting a permanent school building for that school. There are developments regarding Ellenfield Community College and a new eight-classroom primary school for Gaelscoil Áine. There will be a new 350-pupil school building for Rosmini Community School that is at construction and a new 500-pupil school building for Scoil Chaitríona is at stage 1 - preliminary design. The Deputy mentioned Gaelscoil Uí Earcáin. There is a project there to extend that to 16 classrooms that is also at stage 1. There is also a project to provide a new 20-classroom special school for Scoil Chiaráin, which is at stage 2b - detailed design.

Obviously, the Department will continue to keep the short-, medium- and long-term requirements for school places in Dublin 9 and 11 under ongoing review, including through the local authority in respect of its review of development and local area plans. I note that the Deputy is a past pupil of De La Salle Primary School, which is now Gaelscoil Uí Earcáin, which has an ASD class. He spoke about looking for a preparation room and a nurture room. He also mentioned Holy Spirit Girls National School in Ballymun, which also has an ASD unit. I commend both of those schools on that. The Deputy is looking for a canopy and play equipment and use of the yard, so they are things I can bring to the attention of the Minister and the planning and building unit to see if they can do something for the Deputy.

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