Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

59. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on an additional accommodation scheme application made by a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2616/26]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Since 2020, the department has invested over €6 billion in our schools throughout the country under the National Development Plan.

In addition to the €1.6 billion of capital funding made available by Government to the department in 2025, a capital allocation of €7.55 billion was announced for the Department of Education and Youth for the period 2026-2030 under the NDP. The sectoral NDP Implementation Plan including the first tranche of projects to progress to construction for the Education and Youth sector will be published shortly. This 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.

The school referred to by the Deputy has an application with the department for major capital works to cater for an 8 classroom primary school with a 2 classroom SEN base which is currently at project brief stage. The department is finalising its assessment and will be in further contact with the patron shortly.

Information available to the department indicates that there is good availability of primary school capacity in the area and the school authority is therefore encouraged to manage its enrolment policy within its current capacity. The school has recently submitted a new application for additional accommodation which is currently being examined and the department will be in further contact with the school in this context.