John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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278. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the application to amalgamate two schools (details supplied); and if the next step in the process will be expedited. [10466/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I can confirm to the Deputy that my department has received a request from the patron of the schools under reference for the amalgamation of the two schools.

As the Deputy will be aware the decision making authority for school amalgamations belongs to the patron or trustees of a school, and this is subject to the approval of the Minister for Education. Any proposed change involves extensive negotiations at local level and must be well planned and managed in a manner that accommodates the interests of students, parents, teachers, local communities and contributes to an inclusive education system.

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.

The Programme for Government recognises the importance of strong capital investment in the school building programme and supporting this with enhanced allocations through the NDP process.

In County Kilkenny alone, in the period 2020 – 2024, the department has invested €142.89 million on projects in construction, projects in the pipeline and on completions. There were 41 projects completed in Kilkenny in the period 2020 to 2024 and there are currently 11 projects in construction.

I am pleased to advise the Deputy that in recent weeks my department has received confirmation on the DEIS band status of the proposed amalgamated school. Officials in my department are therefore now in a position to progress the assessment of the amalgamation proposal and will be engaging with the school authorities in the coming days. I can assure the Deputy that every effort will be made to expedite this process and contact will be made with the Patron once a decision is made.