Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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300. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when the evaluation of tenders for the new building project at school (details supplied) is expected to conclude; the anticipated date for the award of the construction contract; whether her Department remains on schedule for commencement of construction in late Quarter 3 of 2026; the projected completion and handover dates for the school building; the measures being taken to minimise the risk of delays during construction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50342/26]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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The large scale capital project for the school referred to by the Deputy is for the provision of a new 600 pupil school building including all associated ancillary accommodation, with the inclusion of additional classrooms for children with Special Educational Needs configured within the existing layout.

The invitation to tender issued in late Q4 2025. Tenders have recently been returned and are been evaluated in accordance with procurement guidelines. It is envisaged construction could commence in late Quarter 3 of 2026.

Since 2020, my department has invested over €6.9 billion in our schools throughout the country under the National Development Plan, involving the completion of over 1,400 school building projects along with over 4,000 small-scale improvement works to meet priority maintenance needs and advance energy efficiency and climate goal. In addition, repurposing and optimisation of existing accommodation capacity across the school estate has been a key enabler of timely, local provision of special class capacity in a way that supports best practice in inclusion and integration. Circa 80% of new special classes in 2025/26 are being facilitated in repurposed classroom accommodation.

This investment has delivered real benefits for school communities.

A total capital allocation of €7.55 billion for the Department of Education and Youth has been confirmed 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.

As part of the NDP Implementation Plan for the education and youth sector, a first tranche of projects to progress to tender and/or construction during 2026 and 2027 was published in January 2026. Gaelcholáiste Reachrann was included in this tranche. Prioritisation will continue to identify further tranches of projects to proceed to tender and construction over the NDP period, with stakeholder consultation to commence in June 2026.

Our NDP Implementation 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.

I would like to advise the Deputy, over this period, my Department has provided €1,906.47 million in capital funding for Dublin schools. A total of 261 schools have been upgraded either through provision of a new school building, a large-scale extension or provision of modular accommodation. 20 school projects were included in the NDP Implementation Plan to go to tender or construction in 2026 and 2027 including Gaelcholáiste Reachrann.

There are currently 54 school projects in Dublin under construction. This summer, 53 schools?are approved to?undergo works as part of the Climate Action Summer Works Scheme.

In addition, since 2020 a total of 529 special classes have been sanctioned in Dublin, of which 128 were sanctioned for September 2026.