Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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48. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a school (details supplied) will be included in the school capital buildings programme, considering its seriously inadequate school facilities and amenities in a landlocked site, as well as the dangerous location of the school from a road-safety perspective. [8590/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I wish to advise the deputy that all applications from schools for major capital works must be considered in the context of capacity requirements and climate action commitments. The priority of my Department continues to be the provision of required additional school places to meet demographic requirements as well as for children with special educational needs.

My Department is required to manage the allocated capital funding across all schools in the country. The Department’s approach is to maximise the usage of existing capacity in schools and, in tandem with this, to manage the progression of the existing pipeline of projects within available budgets and in line with the Government’s Infrastructure Guidelines.

The Department can identify opportunities to transform existing schools as part of energy retrofit projects, and the Department’s Pathfinder programme has been developing effective solutions in this regard, as we plan for a future wider rollout.

The plan for working this through at national scale will be informed by the outcome of an Energy and Condition survey of all schools which is currently underway. It has already been completed across schools in five counties and the remaining counties are due for completion by mid-2026. The subsequent analysis of this significant amount of data will take some time but will help determine priorities going forward in relation to retrofit and refurbishment projects. The process may ultimately identify a requirement for the replacement of some accommodation, but this is not expected to be widespread. This overall process is particularly valuable in facilitating a proportionate assessment of a school’s accommodation upgrade needs relative to all other schools and allow an effective prioritisation of capital investment.

This allows the Department to keep a strong focus on the provision of additional capacity to cater for demographics, new housing developments and the rollout of additional special classes for children with additional needs. This approach reflects the Department’s fundamental objective of ensuring the availability of a school place for every child.

The pace of delivery of additional residential development in school planning areas, along with updated enrolment data and demographic data will be kept under review and this will inform the timing of school requirements. The Department will continue to liaise with the Local Authorities in respect to the projected completion of planned residential developments.

The Department is currently examining demographic requirements across the country, including in the context of current and planned residential development activity. The school referred to by the deputy for capital funding will be considered in this context.

Tony McCormack (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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49. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on work for a school (details supplied), including the works on an ASD unit. [8372/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The school to which the Deputy refers was approved to enter the department’s pipeline of projects under the Additional School Accommodation Scheme. The project will provide for 3 mainstream classrooms, 1 technology room and preparation area, 2 science laboratories and preparation area, 1 design and communications graphics room, 1 art room, 1 multimedia room and a 2 classroom Special Educational Needs (SEN) base.

In August 2024, this project was approved to progress to tender stage. This process was completed, and a tender report was submitted to my department for review in December 2024. This report is currently undergoing an intensive review from both a technical and cost perspective in accordance with the requirements of the Public Spending Code. All projects, including this one, will undergo the necessary due diligence outlined in the Public Infrastructure Guidelines. Managing timing, scope, and cost is crucial to staying within budgetary limits for the overall program.

Once this review is complete, my department will be in touch with the delivery body on how best to progress this important project.

Shane Moynihan (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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50. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update on the progress on school building projects and the projected completion dates for schools in Dublin mid-west (details supplied). [8473/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Devine Mercy JNS & SNS

This joint school building project will deliver a new extension and refurbishment of some existing accommodation to provide a 24 classroom primary school with classrooms for children with special educational needs, at both schools.

The schedule of accommodation was recently increased to include SEN accommodation and the design options submitted by the Design Team are being evaluated by my Department.

A meeting of all stakeholders is anticipated to be held in the near future, to discuss and agree a preferred option which can be further developed and prepared to be submitted for planning permission.

St Thomas JNS & Scoil Áine SNS

The joint school building project will deliver 2 new 24 classroom primary schools with accommodation for children with special educational needs, at the current site in Lucan.

The project is currently at an early stage of Architectural Planning Stage 1 – Initial Sketch Scheme. A preferred design option has been agreed by all Stakeholders and my Department have requested the Design Team to further assess the proposed construction programme and methodology. On receipt of their report, my Department will review and advise both schools and their design team regarding project progression.

Lucan Community College

This large scale capital project is at an advanced stage of Architectural Planning Stage 3 - Tender Action and Award.

The second Tender Report for Reserved Specialists was reviewed by my Department and comments issued to the Design Team and DDLETB for action. When a satisfactory reply is received in relation to the queries raised, we will provide an update to the school authority. This project remains a priority for delivery.

Griffeen Community College

The school building project will deliver a new 1,000 pupil post-primary school and accommodation, including 4 classrooms, for children with special educational needs on a site at Kishogue Cross, Griffeen Avenue, Lucan, Co Dublin.

The Letter of Acceptance (LOA) issued to the successful contractor on 18/11/2024 which allowed the contractor to commence on site. It is anticipated that the construction period will have a duration of some 16 months.

My Department will continue to keep the school updated as the project progresses.

Scoil Chrónáin

The school building project will deliver a new 16 classroom primary school and accommodation, including 2 classrooms, for children with special educational needs on the permanent site at Rathcoole, Co. Dublin.

The project completed Stage 2(b) of the architectural design process in December 2024 involving detailed design and preparation of tender documentation. The project is expected to progress to stage 3 - Tender in Q1 2025.

Projects are subject to relevant due diligence at each stage in the process, within the context of overall programme and budgetary parameters. My Department will continue to keep the school updated as the project progresses.