Schools in Galway East and right across the country are waiting on critical upgrades and critical building upgrades. I am talking about new classrooms, special education spaces, safer buildings and modern facilities. I am thinking about Carrabane National School, Gort National School, St. Brigid's College in Loughrea, Gort Community School, and Coláiste an Eachréidh in Athenry. Over recent months, we have seen very few school building announcements. We need clear timelines. We need to know when decisions are going to be made. Boards of management and principals have done everything they can do. They are now waiting on the Department. Will the Minister explain the cause of the slowdown? When can schools expect updates? When will approvals be given so we can see projects get shovels in the ground and see children experiencing a higher level of education in this country?

I acknowledge that Deputy Dolan would like to see projects delivered quicker over the next number of years for the schools that he has raised in Galway East. What we have tried to do in the national development plan is to significantly prioritise investment in education and in particular special education for communities where we know there is serious pressure on school places from a special education perspective.

That is why the capital allocations have gone from, on average, €1 billion a year in the Department of education to €1.5 billion over the next five years. The capital allocation over the past five years was €5 billion; over the next five, it will be €7.5 billion. That will allow for a lot more school buildings, special education places and, indeed, the critical social infrastructure in terms of schools delivered in communities across our country. I can ask the Minister for education to respond back to the Deputy's particular needs. There are pressures the Minister needs to manage in-year around the pipeline of projects that are there-----

Thank you, Minister. I call Deputy Michael Murphy.

-----and I know she is working to manage that within the context of her overall allocation.