John Connolly (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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319. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the Stage 2B report for the development of a new school (details supplied) has been submitted by Patron Body to her Department’s Buildings Section; if her Department has commenced the review of the report; when the review might be complete; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50595/26]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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The project to which the Deputy refers is devolved to Le Chéile Trust for delivery.

The project is currently in the final stages of Stage 2b of the architectural design process. This stage allows for detailed design and planning, obtaining necessary statutory permissions and preparation of tender documents. Planning has been granted, and the stage 2b report has been submitted to the Department. It is currently undergoing a detailed technical and cost review in line with the Infrastructure Guidelines. Managing timing, scope, and cost is crucial to staying within budgetary limits for the overall program.

Under the NDP Sectoral Investment Plan for education and youth, €5 billion is allocated to project rollout to modernise and expand school infrastructure. A first tranche of 105 school building projects has been published to proceed to construction or tender in 2026–2027 these projects were projects already at Tender or advanced detailed design (Stage 2b), prioritising urgent capacity pressures and special education needs.

Prioritised projects continue to be progressed through earlier stages of the design pipeline, with a focus on special schools; schools fully in interim accommodation, with an urgent requirement for permanent accommodation; projects delivering significant special education capacity; additional accommodation required to cater for demographic growth in an area; and projects dealing with the most significant condition issues.

As part of the department-led prioritisation process underway for 2026 and 2027, consultation with school patrons began this month. A further tranche of priority projects is targeted for publication in 2027, informed by departmental analysis, engagement with patrons and schools, funding parameters, and—where relevant—the department’s energy and condition inventory of the school estate, due for completion by year-end. Projects will need to be at an appropriate stage of readiness to be considered. In particular, projects already at Stage 2b are well positioned for potential inclusion in the next tranche.

My department will continue to work to finalise the Stage 2b process for the school in question and the project will be considered as part of the overall prioritisation process for the next tranche of projects to proceed to tender.