Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal West, Sinn Fein)
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I thank the Minister of State for being here this evening. I do not mean this disrespectfully when I say it but I would have appreciated if the Minister for education could have made herself available for this because it is a very serious issue in my constituency. I do not say that in any disrespectful way to the Minister of State. I am grateful he at least is here to hear it.

The Government published its priority list this day last week. That sets out who is on the list and who is not. I represent one of the youngest constituencies, which is also the fastest growing in terms of population, in this State. The need not just for infrastructure now, namely, classrooms to get rid of the prefabs, is very clear but also we need to plan for the future because we have a growing population. That is a good thing and we are very proud of that. Unfortunately, when the Government published its priority list there was not one single school from my constituency on that list. Not one. It has been remarked on by a few of the old backbenchers of destiny, as well as by other TDs, that there does seems to be quite a number of them going to Galway, which I am sure is just a coincidence because that is in the Minister's constituency but we have not had an explanation as to how some schools get on the list and some do not and that is really frustrating. My phone has been hopping. I have met parents in person. I have also received a huge number of emails. As the Minister of State can imagine, when the list comes out and it is on the RTÉ website, the first thing people do is click and go to see where their kid's school is on the list. There was not one on the list. We are scratching our heads. There are plenty of schools in my area that require additional infrastructure. I know we are very short of autism places in Skerries at the moment. I was compiling this list and it is a case of 2b or not 2b. A lot of schools in my area are stuck at stage 2b. They had hoped they would find themselves on this list for priorities and that that would give them the green light. What they fear is that because they are not on the 2026 and 2027 list, that means their school and building that is so desperately needed is now going to be pushed out and will not happen until at least 2028. The Minister of State may be able to address that.

I am specifically raising a number of schools today. St. Teresa's Primary School, Balbriggan, is a fantastic school celebrating 50 years and some of the buildings are that old. There are a lot of prefabs there and they are falling apart. This school is stuck at stage 2b. Gaelscoil Ros Eo and St. Joseph's Secondary School, Rush, have planning permission, a site and the tender documents are going to be delivered to the Department in a matter of weeks. They are at a very advanced stage. They want to know when they are getting the green light and when there will be a new school. I am sure they are as sick now at all the Government representatives and wannabee representatives who turned up for their photographs and now it appears this is going to be delayed. St. Mary's National School, Oldtown, has 18-year-old Portakabins. It is stuck at stage 2a. Balbriggan Community College is at stage 2b but is also not on the priority list. Likewise, Rush National School is stuck at stage 2b. These schools are all in towns where the population is growing and the schools are already pushed to capacity. The teachers are doing their very best. The principals are tearing their hair out. Then, when the priority list comes out, it can be imagined how people felt when they saw their school was not on it. I am hopeful, given the advanced stage of some of these projects, that they will be able to progress but I would be interested to hear from the Minister of State what the response of the Department is.

Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent)
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Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta. She is right; I am taking this on behalf of the Minister for education.

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. It gives me an opportunity to set out for the House the position with regard to school infrastructure in Dublin Fingal West on behalf of the Department and the Minister for Education and Youth. I can assure the Deputy that the provision of school places to meet the needs of children and young people at primary and post-primary level, including children and youth people with special educational needs, is an absolute priority for the Minister. When demographic data indicates that additional provision is required, the delivery of such additional provision is dependent on the particular circumstances of each case and may be provided through utilising existing unused capacity within a school or schools; extending the capacity of a school or schools; or provision of a new school or schools. If additional accommodation is required, the aim is to try to facilitate this as much as possible by way of expansion of existing schools rather than establishing new schools.

The expansion of existing schools is consistent with wider Government objectives under Project Ireland 2040 for an increased emphasis and compact growth.

It should be noted that the underlying demographic profile of preschools and school-aged children residing in the Dublin Fingal West area indicates a declining demand for school places. The number of junior and senior infant pupils is approximately 20% lower than the number of children in fifth and sixth classes, with an additional average reduction of 15% a month in preschool-aged children. The demographic data will continue to be monitored by the Department's forward planning section and is subject to change in line with population trends, particularly those influenced by new housing completions.

Between 2020 and 2025, the Department of Education and Youth has provided €1.79 billion in capital funding for Dublin schools. Over this period, a total of 244 schools have been upgraded either through provisions of new school buildings, large-scale extensions or modular accommodation. There are currently 64 school projects under construction in Dublin. Another 20 school projects will go to tender or construction in 2026 and 2027, which form part of the first tranche of the €7.55 billion national development plan sectoral implementation plan recently announced by the Minister.

This summer, 53 schools are approved to undergo works as part of the summer works scheme climate action plan. Since 2020, a total of 459 special classes have been opened in Dublin, 58 of which were sanctioned for September 2026. The Department is continually planning for and investing in existing and new schools to ensure that every child in the State has access to a school place. With regard to the Dublin Fingal West area, there are a number of active projects are primary level. These projects include St. Molaga's in Balbriggan, St. Michael's Special School in Skerries, Skerries Educate Together National School, Ballyboughal National School and Gaelscoil Bhaile Brigín, which will provide for both mainstream and special education needs.

A number of large-scale school projects have been completed in the past six years, including Lusk Community College. Smaller scale additional school accommodation, ASA, projects were also completed across a number of primary and post-primary schools. There are also another 19 projects are primary and post-primary levels at different stages of architectural planning process for schools across the Dublin Fingal West area.

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal West, Sinn Fein)
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I will read out the names again because none of the schools I named are on the list. To be brutally frank with the Minister of State, referencing schools that were built previously is not going to help the people in schools that are falling down around them and bursting at the seams. We have a problem in Dublin Fingal West in terms of school capacity. We also have a problem because the teaching staff, pupils and parents are absolutely sick, sore and tired of make-do and mend.

I am going to read out the specific names. I would be most grateful if the Minister of State could get me a direct response as soon as possible on each of these so that I might go back to the parents and the school communities, which are all coming to me because they are understandably distressed. St. Teresa's national school in Balbriggan is stuck at stage 2b. Gaelscoil Ros Eo and St. Joseph's in Rush are at a very advanced stage, have planning permission and a site, and the tender documents are going to go to the Department in a matter of weeks. St. Mary's National School in Oldtown is in 18-year-old prefabs. It is at stage 2a. Balbriggan Community College is at stage 2b, but not on the priority list. Rush National School is also at stage 2b.

These are all in towns where I would be very confident, because I have looked at the data, that they fulfil the demographic requirements. If the demographic requirements are the only requirements that this priority list was based on, I am happy to tell the Minister of State that we more than fulfil that. The Minister of State can ask the master in the Rotunda Hospital and they will tell him that there is population growth in my area. Houses are also being built in my area. The Government is not building anywhere near enough, but they are certainly building in the area. This is needed to future-proof, at some point, but it is also needed now. The schools are in very substandard conditions. There are 18-year-old prefabs in one of those schools. They are mouldy. It is not appropriate for kids to be taught in those conditions. I was going to say "in modern times", but it is not appropriate any time for kids to be in classrooms where there is mould.

Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent)
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The Department uses data from a range of sources, including child benefit data, enrolments and information on new residential developments to plan for school place needs. As has been outlined, there has been a significant investment put into schools infrastructure across the Fingal county area, including in the constituency of Dublin Fingal West. The Department is continuing to plan for an investment in existing and new schools. I can assure the Deputy that the Department will continue to liaise with Fingal County Council in respect of its county development plan and any associated local area plans with a view to identifying any potential long-term school accommodation requirements across the county.