Written answers

Wednesday, 11 June 2025

Department of Education and Skills

Schools Building Projects

Photo of Naoise Ó MuiríNaoise Ó Muirí (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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137. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when construction will commence for the delivery of a new classroom for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31176/25]

Photo of Helen McEnteeHelen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The school referred to by the Deputy was approved to enter my Department's pipeline of school buildings for a project delivering one mainstream classroom. The project is devolved to the school authority for delivery.

The Stage 3 tender report was recently received by my Department and is currently being reviewed from a cost perspective in accordance with the requirements of the Public Spending Code. All projects, including this one, are subjected to the required due diligence as specified in the Department's infrastructure guidelines. Managing timing and cost is crucial to staying within budgetary limits for the overall program.

Once this review is completed, my Department will contact the school authorities with the outcome for the progression of this much needed project.

Photo of Naoise Ó MuiríNaoise Ó Muirí (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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138. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update on the delivery of a new classroom at a school (details supplied); the current stages completed and outstanding within the project lifecycle for delivery of this permanent building; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31177/25]

Photo of Helen McEnteeHelen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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In relation to the school referred to by the Deputy, my department has provided a modular build project of 7 mainstream classrooms, 5 special education tuition rooms, 1 science lab with prep area & 1 art room which was delivered on site in 2024. Also, my department provided a reconfiguration project of two mainstream classrooms to provide 2 special education classrooms which was delivered on site in 2025.

Since 2020, my department has invested over €6 billion in our schools throughout the country under the National Development Plan (NDP), involving the completion of over 1,375 school building projects. Government support for this investment, including by way of supplementary capital funding, has delivered real benefits for school communities. A recent Government decision has approved €210m supplementary capital funding for my department to support the provision of special education accommodation and meet school place needs. This brings the total capital allocation for 2025 for my department to €1.6bn.

As part of the NDP Review process, all departments, including my department, are currently engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform with respect to NDP allocations for the period 2026-2030. It is expected that there will be clarity on these allocations over the course of the summer period, and this will allow my department to plan its capital investment programme for the 2026 to 2030 period in line with prioritised needs and reflecting, as appropriate, wider Government priorities. Maximising existing capacity in schools to meet needs is very important. The progression of prioritised individual projects to meet the most urgent needs in the 2026 to 2030 period that cannot be met through existing capacity across schools in the local area will be considered on a rolling basis from Autumn onwards after the NDP allocations are finalised.

My department has no current ASA applications on hand for any additional accommodation for the school in question. Should the school wish to make an application in the future the relevant application form is available at

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