Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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915. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when her Department expects to make a decision regarding a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60054/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The project referred to by the Deputy has been devolved for delivery to the Laois Offaly Education Training Board (LOETB).

A design team was appointed to progress the project through the necessary architectural stages of design, statutory approvals, procurement, and construction. The approved project brief will provide for a 400 pupil post primary school and 4-classroom special education unit.

In Quarter 2 2024, this project received Department approval to progress to Stage 2A (detailed design) of the architectural planning design process. This stage included the development of the design, and an accurate cost plan that best meets the design, as agreed.

In Quarter 2 2025, a Stage 2A report was submitted to the Department for review and is undergoing an intensive review from both a technical and cost perspective in accordance with the requirements of the Public Spending Code. Once this review is fully completed, the Department will engage with LOETB on the outcome.

In July, the Government announced a capital allocation of €7.55 billion for the Department of Education and Youth for the period 2026-2030 under the National Development Plan. As part of this NDP allocation my Department will place a strong emphasis on provision for children with special educational needs, with a particular focus on meeting annual school place needs. In relation to project rollout for Large-Scale projects and Additional School Accommodation scheme projects, the approach will be to continue to maximise the capacity of the existing school estate as much as possible in the first instance and provide necessary additional capacity through targeted and prioritised project rollout over the course of 2026 to 2030 period to meet the most urgent and prioritised needs. It is planned that circa 80 school building projects will progress to construction across 2026 and 2027 as part of a 2-year rolling programme.

All Government Departments are expected to publish their sectoral NDP Implementation Plans in November. My Department’s plan will optimise outputs from the NDP allocations, with a strong focus on maximising existing school capacity, progressing priority projects where local capacity across schools in the area is insufficient, and ensuring delivery that is affordable, offers value for money, and meets functional needs.