46. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the three secondary schools in west Wicklow (details supplied) that are awaiting building projects to proceed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29144/26]

The current status of the 3 secondary school projects referred to by the Deputy is as follows:

The Blessington Community College project has been devolved for delivery to Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB). A stage 2b report has been submitted to the Department which is currently under review from a technical and cost perspective. Department officials continue to engage closely with patron bodies, management bodies and schools with respect to the timing of the progression of projects to tender and/or construction over the period 2026 to 2027.  This includes continued engagement with KWETB with respect to the progression of this project.

Regarding St Kevins CC Dunlavin, this project has been devolved to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) for delivery as part of a programme of school building projects (Project Dargle bundle) . The project is currently at Stage 2b of the architectural planning design process with a full grant of planning permission received for the school in 2024. The NDFA will continue to engage directly with the school authority to keep them fully informed of progress on this project.

Finally, in relation to Scoil Chonglais Baltinglass, this project has been approved for funding under my Department’s Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme. The approved accommodation consists of three general classrooms, one textiles room, one music room, one DCG/Technology room, one home economics room, two science laboratories with a shared preparation area, and a two-classroom SEN base. Delivery of the project has been devolved to Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board (KWETB). Approval to progress to Stage 2B (planning permission stage) of the architectural design process was granted to KWETB in February 2025. Responsibility now rests with KWETB to engage with the Design Team to advance the project. Notwithstanding this, department officials will continue to liaise closely with the school authority and design team, providing guidance, support and practical assistance as required.

Since 2020, my department has invested over €6.7 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.

Government support for this investment, including by way of supplementary capital funding, has delivered real benefits for school communities.

In July the Government announced a capital allocation of €7.55 billion for the Department of Education and Youth 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.

The NDP Implementation Plan for the Education and Youth sector along with the first tranche of projects to progress to tender and/or construction during 2026 and 2027 was published in January 2026.    This 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.

The current status of all projects is set out under item number ten at the following link (www.gov.ie). This is updated on a regular basis to reflect project progress through the various stages of capital appraisal, site acquisition, design, tender and construction.