Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal East, Labour)
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89. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department will work with the DDLETB to fast track the application for a new building for a school (details supplied) which has faced significant delays; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39784/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, responsibility for delivering a major project for the school in question has been devolved to Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education & Training Board (DDLETB). The Department of Education originally approved the partial refurbishment of the school referred to by the Deputy and the construction of a stand-alone extension of just over 4,000 square metres in area which includes a two classroom Special Education Needs base.

A number of significant issues arose in the course of the architectural design process, including delays in obtaining statutory consents from the local authority and finalisation of the detailed design process for the project as it was originally approved. In line with the Department’s implementation of the public Infrastructure Guidelines and the evolving demographic needs of the local community, the Department’s review of the project resulted in an agreement with a proposal by DDLETB to investigate an alternative proposal for the progression of the project which would better serve the local community. The proposed alternative involves the more efficient use of the site to cater for a new replacement school in light of the extent of refurbishment on the existing school and the master-planning of the site for the provision of accommodation for another school on the site. My department undertook a Feasibility Study for a shared education campus and options in this study have been examined by my Department and the school patron, Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board (DDLETB).

It is envisaged that the revised project will provide a new 1,000 mainstream pupil and 6 SEN school for St. Finian’s Community College Swords but that the project will also include the master planning of an area of the site to accommodate a potential second school on the site. The proposed revised brief formulation is currently being finalised by the department and the project will be devolved to DDLETB for delivery.

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. The department has and will continue to work closely with DDLETB in this context.

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 1,400 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 €1.6 billion.