Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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90. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills following her recent visit to a school (details supplied), if she will provide an updated timeline for the delivery of the permanent school building; the issue that is preventing her Department from fast-tracking this long-overdue project, particularly in light of the recent decline in enrolment in Irish-medium education; and if, given the urgent need to invest in Gaelcholáistí and Gaelscoileanna, when real prioritisation of Irish-language education will be seen at national level. [31282/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, the Programme for Government includes a commitment to expand opportunities for students to attend Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí. The project to deliver a new 600 pupil building for the school in question supports this commitment. When I recently visited the school I saw first-hand the importance of the planned building project for the school community.

There have been certain challenges through this school building project, including a requirement for a new planning application. A new grant of planning was received in December 2023, with a number of conditions attached. Decarbonisation measures were included in a revised project scope in line with Climate Action objectives, and the design team is finalising the tender documents in line with revised Technical guidance documentation from my Department.

Department staff remain in close contact with the Design Team and the patron throughout the process and my officials will be in contact with the school authority as soon as the Design Team completes its review.

This project will further build on capital expenditure of circa €405 million which was invested in Irish-medium schools between 2020 and 2024. This is a strong demonstration of my department’s commitment to the Irish-medium school sector. In total there are now 248 Gaelscoileanna and 50 Gaelcholáistí across the country.

Work is currently underway in my department to develop a new policy on Irish-medium education outside of the Gaeltacht, and a comprehensive public consultation process was undertaken in this regard. A taskforce is due to be established under the policy to explore issues relating to the various models of Irish-medium education provision. This will be a key element of supporting our Programme for Government commitment to expand opportunities for students to attend Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí.