David Maxwell (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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391. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the current status of proposals to acquire lands adjacent to a school (details supplied); if her Department is engaged in discussions regarding the potential purchase of these lands; whether funding has been identified for such an acquisition; and whether this would facilitate the provision of additional facilities, including a sports hall, at the school.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29556/26]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Cavan Monaghan Education and Training Board intend to acquire lands adjacent to the school referred to by the Deputy for the development of sporting facilities for the school including potential future development of a PE hall. The ETB has confirmed that the acquisition will not require any departmental funding.

An NDP investment plan for the education and youth sector was published in January 2026. A key focus of the €7.55 billion Investment Plan is the creation of additional places in special classes and special schools, as well as the targeted rollout of projects to meet the most urgent needs in areas of high demographic pressure. Enrolments in the school planning area in which this school is located peaked in 2023.

My department approved a project under the department's Modular Framework for the school. The project for two special education classrooms and six mainstream classroom was delivered in 2023. The Department also recently provided funding for the refurbishment of an engineering room at the school.

Progress will continue to be made under the NDP Investment Plan on both new and modernised PE Hall and GP Room provision as part of the rollout of new schools and large-scale projects in the existing pipeline, including the completion of circa 300 existing school building projects currently in construction involving 14 PE halls.

Funding will also be invested to support curricular delivery and well-being across schools which will prioritise the development of PE halls and sporting facilities (including yards and play areas) in conjunction with the Sports Capital Fund to deliver for both schools and communities.

Additional initiatives to be rolled out over the course of the 2026 to 2030 NDP period include a PE Hall programme targeting post-primary schools that do not yet have dedicated PE Hall facilities, for delivery from 2029 onwards. My Department will engage with patrons regarding the prioritisation of investment in this regard.