Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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12. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason for the move of school building for children in a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6634/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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My Department has identified the need for a new special school to be established in the Lucan area for the 2025/26 school year.

My Department considers that this need is best met through Lucan East Educate Together National School relocating to the new school building that is nearing completion in Kishoge and for the existing school building at Lucan East to be re-purposed to facilitate the establishment of the new special school.

The new school in Kishoge is due for completion at Easter 2025. This will enable the existing building to be re-purposed in advance of the opening of the new special school.

An assessment of the wider demographic requirements at primary level in the Lucan area was carried out. The decision to relocate Lucan East ETNS was made in the wider context of the demographic need for school places in the area. The demographic profile of the Lucan area has changed since Lucan East ETNS was established, and the demand for school places in the current location is decreasing.

The area surrounding the new school has a younger demographic profile, and a higher associated demand for primary school places in the short to medium term. The Clonburris area is planned to deliver over 10,000 new homes that will accommodate 23,000 people. Development has started on these homes and the demand for primary school places is starting to materialise.

The new school is well located to continue to serve its existing catchment area, which has a reducing demand over the medium term, while also starting to meet the increasing demand from the new residential area in Clonburris. The new location is also better positioned to facilitate expansion opportunities into the future.

Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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13. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to outline the current stage of development for a school (details supplied), including the timeline for completion; if she will commit to visiting the site to discuss progress with school representatives; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8618/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Mo bhuíochas duit as an gceist sin, a Theachta.

The large scale capital project for the school referred to by the Deputy is the provision of a new 600 pupil school building including all associated ancillary accommodation. The project was originally authorised to proceed to tender, upon

completion of the prequalification shortlisting process in September 2022.

Planning Permission was due to expire in December 2022 and it was anticipated that an application to extend the duration could be submitted. However, due to changes in the Planning and Development Act 2000, there was no longer provision to apply for an extension of planning permission and a new planning application would be required. The new application was submitted in March 2023 with additional supporting documentation requested by Dublin City Council, which was over and above what had been supplied with the original application.

A new grant of planning was received in December 2023, with a number of conditions attached. Decarbonisation measures were included in a revised project scope in line with Climate Action objectives, and the design team are finalising the tender documents in line with revised Technical guidance documentation from my Department.

Department staff remain in close contact with the Design Team and the patron throughout the process. The large scale capital project remains a priority for delivery and my department officials will be in contact with the school authority as soon as the Design Team complete their review.

All school visits and diary requests are dealt with through my office in the Department and they can liaise with the school in question. I will ask officials in my Department to continue to engage with the school in relation to the concerns raised