Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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1026. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the timeframe for commencement of a new school building (details supplied). [41076/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Since 2020, this 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. €210m supplementary capital funding for my department was approved which brought the total capital allocation for 2025 for the Department to €1.6 billion.

As the deputy may be aware, after the NDP Review process, my department has secured funding of €7.55 billion. My department will prioritise investment in special education and school places as part of this funding for 2026-2030. The investment of €7.55 billion in capital funding will ensure that my department can deliver new special schools and upgrade existing schools. We will provide a record 14,000 school places in special classes and special schools. We will continue to provide the delivery of extra spaces in our mainstream schools through construction of new schools and extensions. Maintenance of the existing school estates is also an essential element. My department will develop an implementation plan which will be published in the Autumn.

Maximising existing capacity in schools to meet needs is also 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.

My Department will engage directly with the school authority referred to by the deputy in this context.