Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)

I thank the two Senators for highlighting this very serious issue. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Helen McEntee. The Department of Education and Youth plans to address the additional accommodation needs for St. Aidan’s Comprehensive School, Cootehill, County Cavan.

St. Aidan’s is a co-educational comprehensive school under Catholic patronage. Currently 630 pupils are enrolled in the school. The Department is in receipt of an application for funding under the additional schools accommodation, ASA, scheme from St. Aidan’s. The application was received in September 2025 and sought accommodation in the form of a music room, a textiles room, a design and computer graphics room, a multimedia room, and a science lab and prep area.

St. Aidan’s was approved for a permanent build project for a home economics room, an engineering room and prep area and a construction studies prep area. This project is currently at stage 2B as both Senators have mentioned. It is now devolved to the school authority for delivery so the school is on for delivery.

The school was approved two modular mainstream classrooms and this project is complete. The stage 1 early design report for the traditional build was submitted to Department officials in December 2022. Following this, the Department conducted a comprehensive review of the project from both technical and cost perspectives, in line with the requirements of the public spending code.

In March 2023, approval was recommended to progress the project to stage 2B planning, incorporating the Department’s comments and recommendations. At the time, the design team was required to submit a revised cost plan and updated drawings reflecting design changes as part of the stage 2B report. The ASA delivery section currently awaits this updated cost plan and the stage 2B post-planning report from the school, which should include the necessary statutory approvals and the preparation of tender documentation for review.

It is noted that the school submitted a request for additional accommodation in September 2025, which may have implications for the scope and progression of the current ASA project. The Department will be required to assess the impact of this request in the context of this existing project.

The school also applied, under the ASA scheme, in February 2025 for special class accommodation and a replacement mainstream classroom. The school had requested that this accommodation be added to their traditional build project. However, given the delays this would have entailed the school agreeing to allow its stage 2B project proceed and to have its accommodation needs reviewed at a later stage.The school was advised, as an interim measure, that it could apply for funding to reconfigure current accommodation for a special class. While the Department of Education and Youth is aware of continuing enrolment pressures and demand for additional school places in the area, it is important to note that where enrolment pressures arise, the position may be compounded by duplication of applications, school of choice and external draw factors.

The Department of Education and Youth's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places. The Department will continue the supports and active engagement it has put in place over recent years for schools and parents in ensuring all pupils receive an offer of a school place for the 2026-27 school year and into the future. The educational welfare service of the Child and Family Agency, Tusla, and its national network of educational welfare officers is the statutory agency that can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for their child.