Nessa Cosgrove (Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Bunaíodh Gaelscoil Chnoc na Ré in 1996. Is í an t-aon Ghaelscoil i gContae Shligigh. Tá an scoil ag feidhmiú ó 1998 ó chlubtheach CLG Naomh Muire agus i deich seomra réamhdéanta atá ag dul in aois. Tá na háiseanna thar a bheith bunúsach agus faoi chaighdeán, níl halla tionóil ann, agus tá costais ard fhuinnimh á n-íoc ag an scoil.

In 2006, the Department initiated site acquisition via OPW offices for a site to be purchased for a new Gaelscoil in Sligo. In 2009, at the school initiative, nearby land was zoned for community use. In 2020, following Sligo County Council endeavours, the Department acquired a four-acre site. This site is fully supported by planning, roads, heritage and Irish Water as suitable for a school. In May 2022, the Department appointed a consultant project manager to drive the design team in this. On 14 June, an architect design team was to be appointed, which was 13 months after the project manager's engagement, which was all very positive. This is under the Adapt 3 programme requirement which is intended to expedite the delivery of schools in leased accommodation. The whole point of this Adapt programme is accelerated delivery of architectural planning and tendering. The actual project at the moment is at stage 2A. After going through all these processes, it should be well up on stage 2A at this point.

There are soundings of the children's hospital at this stage because the performance periods and contract have been routinely breached without consequences. There has been no revised programme communicated. The Department never received a programme about the school. It was only achieved through a freedom of information request. The school has reported poor communication, withheld information and a lack of structural engagement between the school management and the Department of education. The Department is paying €181,000 annually in leased prefab accommodation. The school is forced to seek increased voluntary contributions to avoid closure, and it is the only Gaelscoil in Sligo. The population of Sligo is growing. Taxpayers' money is being wasted through prolonged consultant engagement and delivery.

The príomhoide is set to retire. He has been working on this and has been principal of that school for generations and he is set to retire. He thought he would be moved in a long time ago. The site is there; the planning is there. The concerns we have, and this has been raised, is the failure to uphold the Adapt 3 policy despite its incorporation into contract documents. It has been approved. There is a lack of programme discipline and there is an absence of departmental oversight. Despite having a suitable site, clear planning support, dedicated local authority efforts - the county council is fully onboard with this - and a detailed set of contractual programme requirements, the project to deliver a permanent building for Gaelscoil Chnoc na Ré has stalled entirely. Níl sé sin ceart. Níl sé cothrom go gcaithfidh an scoil chomh fada leis seo ar fhreagra. Ní mór dúinn rud éigin a dhéanamh faoi seo. Níl a fhios againn cad atá á dhéanamh anois.

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I thank Senator Cosgrove for raising this important project. This is the only Gaelscoil in County Sligo. These are projects that should absolutely be supported, nourished and given every bit of support, both financial and leadership-wise, to ensure they get done. I appreciate and feel for the principal, who is obviously the person who has championed this for many years. I am lucky because in County Monaghan where we have four Gaelscoileanna, but they are not without their challenges in terms of getting them across the line and getting boots on the ground. It is important for Gaelscoil Chnoc na Ré in Sligo.

I thank Senator Cosgrove for raising this matter as it provides me with the opportunity on behalf of the Minister for Education and Youth, who cannot be with us today, to outline to the Seanad the current position in relation to the major building project for Gaelscoil Chnoc na Ré, Sligo. This project is included in the Department of Education and Youth’s construction programme, which will be delivered under the national development plan as part of the Project Ireland 2040 framework. The brief for this project is the development on a greenfield site of a new 12-classroom primary school with additional classrooms for pupils with special additional needs. The major building project is currently at stage 2A of architectural planning, developed design, where the preferred agreed design option can be developed to a stage where the project is fully costed and planned and the scheme can be prepared to lodge for statutory approvals with the local authority. The Senator went through a very detailed summary of the history of all the various stages, so I am sure none of this is new to her. The Department of Education and Youth has reviewed the stage 2A submission from the design team. The stage 2A stakeholders meeting was held on 2 July 2025, with representatives from the school authorities, the design team and the Department and the project manager in attendance. The meeting concluded with a request for the design team to submit a stage 2A addendum report addressing issues raised by the Department at the meeting. That report was received recently and is currently being reviewed by the Department. Upon review of the report, the Department will advise all stakeholders regarding the further progression of the project.

In July, the Government announced a capital allocation of €7.55 billion for the Department of Education and Youth for the period 2026 to 2030 under the national development plan. As part of this allocation, the Department will place a strong emphasis on provision for children with special educational needs, with a particular focus on meeting annual school place needs.

The approach to rolling out large-scale projects and additional school accommodation scheme projects will be to continue to maximise the capacity of the existing school estate as much as possible in the first instance and to provide necessary additional capacity through targeted and prioritised project roll-out over the course of the period 2026 to 2030 to meet the most urgent and prioritised needs. It is planned that circa 80 school building projects will progress to construction across 2026 and 2027 as part of a two-year rolling programme. Considering what the Senator has said, and as this is the only Gaelscoil in Sligo, it surely must be given priority.

Malcolm Noonan (Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Níl an freagra scríofa againn. We will get it for the Senator after the session.

Nessa Cosgrove (Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit as ucht an fhreagra which contains positive news. We do not know if the school is included within the 80.

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

It says in the response that it will be.

Nessa Cosgrove (Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

That it will---

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I cannot be certain, but we can certainly ask the Minister to clarify that.

Nessa Cosgrove (Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

That would be wonderful. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit. Mar a deir an seanfhocal, “Téann focal le gaoth ach téann buille le cnámh”.

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I have just made a note to ask the Minister if we can get clarity on the 80 schools involved and if the school in question is included. I am sure there will be lots of competition to be in the 80, but this is the only Gaelscoil in the area. Of course, we know the demand for and the pressures to provide accommodation for children with additional needs. This is an inclusive school. Encompassing that in its plans puts its application head and shoulders above those from other schools in the context of the fact that it does so much for everybody within the local community.

Since 2020, the Department of Education and Youth has invested over €6 billion in schools throughout the country under the NDP, involving the completion of over 1,300 school projects. In addition, over 200 SEN repurposing projects have been delivered, maximising the use of existing accommodation while creating opportunities for inclusion and integration. I might add that said inclusion should include the Irish language as well.

Government support for this investment, including by way of supplementary capital funding, has delivered real benefits for school communities. Supplementary capital funding of €210 million, approved by the Government, has brought the total capital allocation for the Department of Education and Youth for this year to €1.6 billion.

All Departments are expected to publish their sectoral NDP implementation plans in November. The Department's plan will optimise outputs from the NDP allocations with a strong focus on maximising existing school capacity and progressing priority projects where local capacity across schools in the area is insufficient and ensuring delivery that is affordable, offers value for money and meets functional needs.

Malcolm Noonan (Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Tá an freagra scríofa ag an Seanadóir anois.