Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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631. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated capital cost of building modular accommodation to allow for 50 additional special classes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29916/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I wish to advise the Deputy, that my department is working with a number of school authorities in relation to the provision of modular accommodation for extra special education school places.

These projects are being worked through currently and the delivery of accommodation for schools is dependent on a number of factors such as the suitability of the site in question, possible planning permission implications, projects already in the pipeline and the provision of modular accommodation to meet the stated demand.

These projects will be delivered under the Department’s Devolved SEN Reconfiguration and Modular Accommodation programme. This programme provides project management supports to enable the accommodation to be provided as quickly as possible and helps to ease the administrative workload for individual schools in relation to the management and delivery of the project.

The use of the Department's Modular Accommodation Framework also assists in ensuring lead in periods for procurement of modular accommodation are minimised to the greatest extent possible and gives certainty on modular costs. The projected cost per modular SEN classroom is c.€700,000.00.

Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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632. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated capital cost of new buildings to allow for 50 additional special classes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29917/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The accommodation solution for the provision of special classes will be bespoke to the individual circumstances of each school, and will need to take account of the level of the requirement for special education provision in the relevant area. The use of existing capacity is the preferred solution, where possible, as this best supports expedited delivery, climate action obligations, and Value for Money

My department and the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) reviewed the forward planning for special education needs (SEN) and highlighted the urgent need for additional SEN special classes. In order to respond to this need at pace, my Department is progressing urgent building projects that involve the repurposing of existing space in schools for SEN purposes. These projects will ensure that existing school capacity is optimised and that teaching spaces are adaptable and flexible to facilitate a student-centred approach to learning. Potential repurposing options will be school and site specific, presenting different opportunities and challenges. To support the delivery of these classes in good time for the 2025/26 school year a new streamlined approach to funding is available to repurpose accommodation for SEN. A SEN Start Up grant of €30,000 for each new SEN classroom sanctioned and opened for the 2025/26 school year will be payable to the school directly following receipt of NCSE notification of sanctioned classes. My department has commenced issuing the first tranche of these payments to schools. Additional funding for small scale repurposing works up to a maximum of €70,000 per class is also available to schools on an application basis. Further information on SEN repurposing supports can be accessed on www.gov.ie.

There is additionally a significant volume of accommodation for primary and post primary special classes included as part of large scale and Additional School Accommodation building projects in the department’s pipeline. These are typically integrated with the delivery of mainstream accommodation as part of projects delivering additional capacity to meet demographic needs.

Where there is a requirement for further special class accommodation in an area, beyond what can be facilitated within existing capacity or as part of a school building project, and that accommodation is required in the near-term, special classes can be provided for in modular accommodation. The extent and nature of that modular accommodation will be informed by the size of the school, the number of special classes already at the school, the scale of the local demand, site constraints, and any additional mainstream accommodation that may also be required.

Given the complexities as outlined above, and the requirement for a bespoke response to the specific circumstances of individual schools, it is not possible to give an estimation of the cost of providing accommodation for 50 special classes.