Eoghan Kenny (Cork North-Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

450. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills how many schools, and school names, have applied for alternative/modular accommodation for the coming academic year; how many have been put in place thus far; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34367/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I can confirm to the Deputy, that my department is working with a number of school authorities in relation to the provision of modular accommodation for the upcoming 2025/26 school year. 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. It is not possible to quantify at this point the exact number that will be in place for the 2025/26 school year. However, I can assure the Deputy that my officials are working closely with the relevant patrons to deliver the required accommodation as soon as possible.

Since 2020, my department has invested over €6 billion in our schools throughout the country under the National Development Plan, involving the completion of over 1,400 school building projects and with construction currently underway in over 325 other projects, which includes new school buildings some of which are being delivered in phases. These 325 projects currently at construction involve a total State investment of over €1.7bn.

Between projects currently under construction and projects moving to construction in this latest phase, investments by the Department of Education are adding over 610,000 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 school’s 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.