Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Since 2020, my department has invested over €5.8 billion in our schools throughout the country, involving the completion of over 1,300 school building projects. We continue to have a strong pipeline of projects for delivery under the school building programme with construction currently underway at approximately 300 projects, which includes new school buildings some of which are being delivered in phases. These 300 projects currently at construction involve a total State investment of over €1.50bn. In April 2024 the department announced that close to 90 projects, including 28 new school buildings, would be authorised to proceed from tender stage to construction over the course of 2024 and early 2025. In total, around €800 million is being invested in these projects under the department’s Large Scale Capital Programme and Additional Accommodation Scheme for essential classroom accommodation.

Between projects currently under construction and projects moving to construction in this latest phase, investments by the Department of Education are adding over 600,000 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 key drivers of capital investment in the schools sector include:

• demographic growth, particularly at post primary level
• increased demand for special educational needs provision
• alignment of school place provision with new housing development
• climate action objectives including deep energy retrofit.

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.

My department is dedicated to the timely delivery of school projects to support sustainable communities. Our commitments under the Programme for Government recognise that schools are at the heart of communities, offering childcare, sports, and other essential services. Our School’s Climate Action plan is committed to achieving climate goals through expanded energy retrofit programs and will continue to support school maintenance with Minor Works Grants and the recently announced Climate Action Summer Works Scheme.

As part of the NDP review my department continues to assess future school place needs across 314 school planning areas using analysis of data from the CSO Census, Child Benefit, and school enrolments, while coordinating with all 31 Local Authorities to align school infrastructure planning with projected population growth and residential development. In parallel, my department engages with the National Council for Special Education to plan for new special classes and additional special school places, conducting detailed reviews of statistical data and existing school capacity.

My department has also introduced a School Energy Profile Inventory to establish both the energy baseline and condition of the school estate, enabling a comprehensive analysis of investment options by integrating energy and school estate condition data in a single survey process. A forthcoming parent survey will also assess demand for school ethos and Irish-medium education.

My department continues to work closely with DPENDR to ensure we can continue to deliver our commitments and to build on the good progress being made on adding capacity to cater for demographic changes and provision for children with special educational needs. Future NDP investment will also facilitate an increased focus on the modernisation of existing school stock and help transition the school system for an era of net zero carbon by 2050.