John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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225. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a school building project being processed by the large scale development section of her Department which is to provide a new building for the amalgamation of two schools (details supplied); if she will outline the steps in this process; the timeline for its completion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49451/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I can confirm to the Deputy that the schools in question submitted applications for capital funding under my Department's Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme.

The purpose of my Department’s ASA scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream classroom accommodation and accommodation for pupils with special education needs is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year, where the need cannot be met by the school’s existing accommodation or at other schools in the area.

At primary level, this situation generally arises to cater for a school’s accommodation requirements where an additional teaching post has been sanctioned by Teacher Allocation Section, or the requirement for a new class for pupils with special education needs has been identified by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), and all available alternative accommodation within the school is already being used for classroom purposes. The capacity at other schools in the area is also considered as part of the assessment of any accommodation needs.

The schools in question submitted an application for amalgamation in 2019. Following the necessary engagement with stakeholders the proposal to amalgamate was confirmed by the department and the schools amalgamated with effect from the 15th May 2025. In support of the amalgamation it was agreed that both schools would locate on the senior school site and the department would facilitate this through the provision of additional accommodation for the schools.

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. 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 which brings the total capital allocation for 2025 for my department to €1.6 billion.

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 most appropriate solution for the schools in question is being considered in this context and the next steps will be confirmed to the school authority as soon as possible