Carol Nolan (Offaly, Independent)
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388. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a school feasibility study (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9466/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I can confirm that a feasibility study was undertaken to consider at the possibility of redeveloping the campus at the school in question to facilitate a proposed amalgamation with two other primary schools. The feasibility study is to examine how the redevelopment could be achieved, while keeping the schools fully operational during construction.

A design solution will attempt to address the collective needs of all three schools and the proposed development of a new educational campus that will benefit them and the surrounding community.

The Department's focus is on the most critical needs for the next school year and how each individual school’s accommodation can be best utilised and at capacity across schools in each school planning area.

In the context of making most effective use of our capital allocation, and mindful of climate action goals, Department officials are working to make sure that all school accommodation capacity is being maximised.

In 2023 a project was completed at the school in question to provide for 2 Mainstream Classrooms, 4 Special Education Tuition Rooms, replacement of GP room & 1 prefab unit for a Special Education Classroom.

The consideration of the proposed amalgamation for the school in question forms part of the Planning and Building Unit’s overall assessment of its work programme and priorities in the context of available capital funding.

The proposal is currently under review and the school authority will be notified directly in due course.

In the interim, the Department is continuing to roll out its existing capital schemes including the Additional School Accommodation scheme to cater for required additional capacity, the Emergency Works and Summer Works schemes.

You may be aware that the new Programme for Government sets out ambitious plans for the school sector and indicates increased capital funding under the NDP. This is very positive and will provide a good platform for investment in our overall school infrastructure.

Since 2020, my department has invested over €5.7 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 1,150 school building projects.? Between projects currently under construction and projects moving to construction in the coming months, investments by the Department of Education are adding over 550,000 square metres of new and modernised capacity to our school estate.?

This is a record level of investment in school buildings. It will expand the number of school places, significantly increase provision for special education and upgrade and modernise our school infrastructure.? The impact of this will be felt in communities right around the country.