Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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257. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will ensure that a school (details supplied) will be upgraded under the Pathfinder Retrofit Programme this summer, as agreed, even though there are delays in the development of the special education needs classrooms, also overseen by her Department. [3951/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Education was successful in 2024 with an application for inclusion in the REPowerEU to develop and complete a Schools Energy Retrofit Pathfinder programme. This EU programme has very strict programme delivery funding timelines which must be met to enable funding drawdown. All selected school projects must proceed to construction phase in summer 2025 and thus has a range of variable that must be taken into account including but not limited to, design team maintaining programme, a positive market response, availability of sufficient electrical supply for the new heat pump system, value for money etc.

This programme is focusing on deep retrofit with renewable heat pumps for all or a section of the school building to achieve a Building Energy Rating (BER) of at least B. The retrofit Pathfinder programme is targeting schools of a scale and size that will typically ensure compatibility to completing the works over a single school term/ summer holiday period.

The school to which the Deputy refers has been included provisionally in this programme and is currently at Stage 2 design phase. As advised to all schools at the outset of this programme, inclusion in the programme is contingent on each school being assessed at each stage and if suitable moving to the next stage. Findings, project and programme delivery and compatibility with the overall programme delivery timelines and funding envelope will determine which projects will progress to the next stage. To date, the school in question has successfully progressed to the detailed design phase.

There is also an ongoing SEN reconfiguration project ongoing at this school which is being undertaken in two phases. Phase 1 is currently ongoing and due for completion by the end of February. Phase 2 requires planning permission and the school are currently awaiting a planning decision which is due in April.

The teams within my Departments Planning and Building unit responsible for the delivery of both projects are working together to coordinate timelines to ensure both projects progress efficiently within the available schedule and funding and delivery requirements where possible.

My Department will continue to engage with the school on the progress of both projects.

Aidan Farrelly (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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258. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update in respect of the delivery of ASD classrooms at a school (details supplied); the date on which officials in the Department communicated with the school; the local authority in respect of the matter; and the steps she can take to expedite the processing of the transfer of deeds. [3984/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I can confirm to the Deputy, that my Department currently does not have an Additional School Accommodation application (ASA) on hand from the school in question.

Officials in my Department contacted the school in October 2024 and it was confirmed that the school authority is liaising with the County Council regarding the acquisition of land adjacent to the school. As both the school site and the land in question are not in state ownership my Department has no role in this matter. It is a matter for the Patron/School authority to liaise with the County Council regarding the processing of the transfer of deeds.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs.

My Department and the NCSE are engaging with schools and school management bodies in relation to the provision of future special classes and are committed to ensuring that sufficient special education placements will be available for children for September and into the future.

Almost 1,700 classes have been sanctioned by the NCSE over the last 5 years. In recent years, 11 new special schools have also been established and many more expanded. For this school year alone over 400 new special classes have been sanctioned bringing the total number of special classes nationwide to over 3,330.131 of these classes are in County Kildare, 16 are new for the 2024/25 school year, 12 at primary level and 4 at post-primary level. Budget 2025 provides funding for another 400 special classes and 300 special school places nationwide.

Special educational needs organisers (SENOs) play an important role in ensuring there is adequate special educational provision within local areas and over the last few months the NCSE have visited schools nationwide to conduct planning meetings. These visits will be key in terms of forward planning for the 2025/26 school year.

My Department is open to considering an application from the school authority in question under my Department's ASA scheme, once the land acquisition issue is resolved by the school authority.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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259. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills what options a school in Donegal (details supplied) has to carry out essential repairs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3996/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The purpose of the Emergency Works Scheme (EWS) is to provide funding specifically for unforeseen emergencies. It does so by ensuring the availability of funding for urgent works to those schools that are in need of resources as a result of an emergency situation.

An emergency is deemed to be a situation which poses an immediate risk to health, life, property or the environment, which is sudden, unforeseen and requires immediate action, and in the case of a school, if not corrected would prevent the school or part thereof from opening.

The EWS operates on the basis of a minimal scope works to address the emergency situation. The EWS is intended to remedy an emergency situation and usually provides only an interim measure until a permanent solution can be delivered under the Summer Works Scheme (SWS) which deals with upgrade works to the school. The school in question submitted an EWS application for a full rewire of the school but provided no supporting evidence of the need for this rewire and it therefore does not qualify for EWS funding.

There is a separate project for an extension to the school that requires some small electrical works to finalise the electrical connection for the new extension, which can be managed within the brief for the project. In order to be of assistance my Department will contact the school to explain the position and what steps need to be taken to resolve the issue.

Should the school in question have any concerns about the condition of the existing building that would qualify as an emergency, it should contact the emergency works team through the online Emergency Works Application Form available through the Esinet System.