Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)

I again thank the Deputies for raising this important issue. The Department of Education and Youth capital investment programme helps to ensure that close to 1 million primary and post-primary students in schools across the country learn in fit-for-purpose buildings. This includes many thousands of children with additional needs who are supported in special schools and classes across the country. Funding under the NDP for 2026 to 2030 will allow the Government to continue to prioritise the effective use of the existing school estate, special educational needs provision and the delivery of additional accommodation, where required. This will be supported by targeted and prioritised project roll-outs to provide required additional capacity where there is no sufficient existing capacity across the schools in an area. The Department of Education and Youth's NDP implementation plan will be published shortly. It will set out in more detail the planned capital investment programme across the school building programme.

I again acknowledge the Deputies' commitment to this issue. I appreciate Deputy Byrne's analogy. It is almost like the Bermuda triangle. It can be very frustrating but at the end of the day, both Deputies are doing their best on this very important issue.

I express my appreciation to Deputy 'Chap' Cleere for his commitment recently with regard to forestry issues. I am straying but I thank him for his concern on behalf of his constituents. I thank both of the Deputies very much.

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