Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail)
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Cuirim fáilte mhór go dtí an Teach roimh an Aire Stáit. Gabhaim buíochas léi as an obair an-mhaith atá á déanamh aici. The Minister of State is welcome to the House to discuss the urgent need for additional accommodation at St. Aidan's Comprehensive School in Cootehill, County Cavan. The school has been a huge success and has grown exponentially. It now suffers from a serious lack of space which is affecting its ability to operate safely and effectively on behalf of its staff and students. There are 654 students on the books, a figure which is due to increase in the new academic year beginning in September 2026. I understand the school has 90 leaving certificate students departing this year, but so far, with enrolment not having closed, 135 students are seeking to enter the school for the academic year beginning September 2026. Unfortunately, due to a lack of space, unless things improve between now and then, 37 of those students will have the doors of the school closed to them. That is an awful pity because they are all local students from local feeder schools.

I would like to commend the principal, Angela Flanagan, and the entire teaching staff and school team on the superb learning environment they have created in the school, which is manifesting itself in the results the students are getting and their academic achievements but also the numbers who hope to attend the school. The numbers speak for themselves. There will be over 700 students there next year. Unfortunately, the lack of accommodation is affecting the school's ability to provide educational attainment to the children who attend in a safe manner. The issue of accommodation needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency. I look forward to the response of the Minister of State so that the school can look forward to sending out letters of offer to all students who wish to attend. I understand the enrolment process will conclude on 17 October and the school hopes to send out letters of offer on 31 October. The clock is ticking. I acknowledge the latitude of the Acting Chair in this regard.

Victor Boyhan (Independent)
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The clock is ticking but we are okay. We are not under pressure. We only have three Commencement matters today.

Sarah O'Reilly (Aontú)
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I welcome the support of Senator Gallagher, my neighbour from Monaghan, on this issue. Principals do not like to get politically involved or seek support, but sometimes it comes to a point where they feel they have no other option.

I want to raise the issue of the lack of spaces in St. Aidan's Comprehensive School in Cootehill. I was contacted by the principal because the school is facing a major problem again this year with space and accommodation due to the high numbers of students. By August 2024, the school will have 700 students. Its existing building has a lack of space and even though it was granted a traditional build project in 2021, four years later the project is stuck at design stage 2B. The school will be forced to cap enrolment and turn 37 children from local feeder schools away.

Last year, the school opened an ASD class by changing one of its mainstream classrooms. This stopgap cannot be repeated because there is simply no more space to reconfigure classrooms. The principal submitted an additional school accommodation, ASA, form in February, but there was no update from the Department. Rather, there was only an automatic response acknowledging the application with inaccurate details the principal has since tried to address, with no success.The deadline for offering school places is 30 October 2025, which is a mere two weeks away. The school finds itself in an incredibly difficult situation as they urgently try to find space rather than turn away students.

This is not a problem with Cootehill only. I will give an idea of where Cootehill is located. The next secondary school north of Cootehill is in Cavan town. Thirty-two students are being bused from Cavan town to Belturbet school because of a lack of space in schools in Cavan town. In 2020, Bailieborough Community School was approved for an extension twice its size. That school is overflowing with students and is waiting five years having been approved for an extension. That project is still at stage 2B. Another neighbouring school is in Kingscourt and due to a lack of space it is overflowing with students. In 2021, the school was approved for design stage 2B. Virginia College is another school that these pupils could attend and the same situation applies. In 2020, the school was approved but school works have not commenced.

Teachers, principals, and students are being put in an impossible situation. It is not like these students can go some place else. There is actually no place for them to go. My question is simple: where are 37 students supposed to go if the Department does not intervene before the end of the month?

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

Victor Boyhan (Independent)
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I am anxious that we wrap up, if the Senators would like to take a half a minute each.

Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail)
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I am happy to share. I thank the Minister of State for her comprehensive response on behalf of the Minister, Deputy McEntee. Clearly, there is urgency attached to this. The last thing we want to do is turn 37 local people away from the secondary school in Cootehill come September next year.

As I see it, there are two strands to this. There is the new build, which, as the Minister of State knows well, will take a considerable length of time. In the meantime, additional accommodation is required by way of modular or whatever. That is what needs to happen to get them out of the current maze.

I will be grateful if the Minister of State would take that message back to the Minister, Deputy McEntee, and stress to her the urgency of addressing this situation.

Sarah O'Reilly (Aontú)
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I support Senator Gallagher in what he said about modular accommodation. I am disappointed that there is not a better answer than what the Minister of State outlined, although I know it is not her Department. I am extremely disappointed for the staff, who are juggling all the time. They constantly have to come up with new ideas. They did that for their SEN class and now they are really stuck and they need a dig-out on it.

I have outlined previously the issue of the schools surrounding this school all bursting at the seams. Where are these 37 children to go? The issue needs to be addressed urgently.

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Senators. I see the seriousness of it. Every day I deal with schools in my area, Carlow-Kilkenny. I want to echo the Senators. I have to compliment the teachers for their hard work and dedication over the years. There is the urgent matter, as Senator O'Reilly said, of the 37 students - local children - looking for a school. Both Senators can be assured that I will be straight away back in contact with the Department. I have been advised that the Department will advance this matter as quickly as possible and that it is very conscious that where additional accommodation is required, a significant lead-in time is necessary for a variety of reasons. The Minister is also saying this.

I thank the Senators again. I can assure them I will definitely go back to the Minister on this.

Victor Boyhan (Independent)
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I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Murnane O'Connor. It is always great to see her in the House. I thank her for giving of her time because this is an exceptionally busy day for any Minister. It is budget day. I thank her for giving of her time, coming in and addressing all the Commencement matters on the agenda today. It is greatly appreciated. I thank the Senators.