Offaly schools at stage 2B
Deputy Clendennen lists several Offaly schools stuck at stage 2B and anxious to move to tender and construction. The Tánaiste says many schools are at that stage, notes a first tranche of projects has been published, and says more will follow.
I fully acknowledge the Government's commitment to education, with over €7 billion committed over the lifetime of this Government, including €1.6 billion in capital funding in 2026 alone. However, there are several schools across my constituency that have progressed to stage 2B in recent years and are now anxious to move forward to tender and construction but they seem to be stuck in a waiting area. Some examples of schools include Geashill National School, Scoil Charthaigh Naofa in Rahan, Scoil Mhuire Bainríoghan in Dunkerrin, Oxmantown National School in Birr, Scoil Naomh Seosamh in Gortnamona, St. Brendan's Community School in Birr and Oaklands Community College in Edenderry. These are important projects for the growing school communities, students, parents and teaching staff and they have already gone through significant planning work. Will the Government give consideration to bringing forward additional funding capacity so that these much-needed projects can proceed at the earliest possible opportunity?
Comment on this
I thank Deputy Clendennen for raising this important issue and listing a number of the important school projects across Offaly that are in need of progression. Being blunt, quite a lot of schools are at stage 2B. We, collectively as a House, want to see as many of them move on as possible, and the Deputy has obviously advocated strongly for the schools in Offaly. The Minister for education has published what we can call the first tranche of a significant number of school building projects. I want to be very clear that this is not the final word on the matter and the Government will be making further allocations in regard to capital in the time ahead. Even in the medium-term fiscal plan we have published, there is unallocated capital during the lifetime of this Government. We will be considering that across the Government in the time ahead and I will keep in touch with the Deputy on those specific Offaly school projects, too.