87. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Education and Youth for a progress report on school building projects approved in Dublin mid-west; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54069/26]

My department is delivering significant projects in Dublin Mid-West and continues to progress further important projects.

There are currently eight projects on site across Dublin Mid-West, including new school buildings for Coláiste Pobail Fola, Gaelscoil na Camóige, Gaelscoil Chluain Dolcáin and Holy Family Community School. Gaelscoil Lír was substantially completed and handed over to the school at the end of last week.

In order to be eligible for inclusion in the first tranche approved to proceed to tender or construction during 2026 and 2027 under my Department's National Development Plan implementation programme, projects needed to already be at an appropriate stage of readiness, i.e. Stage 3, tender stage, or Stage 2b, detailed design and pre-tender.

Within this context, priority was then afforded to 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.

The 105 projects included:

•           45 projects that were already at tender stage (Stage 3)

•           35 projects that currently have planning permission and were at pre-tender stage (Stage 2b)

•           25 projects being delivered through the modular accommodation programme to support additional special educational needs provision,

Of these 105 projects, by the end of June 2026:

•           27 have been progressed to construction

•           22 have been approved to go to construction

•           13 have moved from pre-tender to tender stage

4 school building projects in Dublin Mid-West were included in this list, and the current status is outlined in the table below.

A further 23 large-scale and additional accommodation projects are progressing through the design pipeline: 10 at Preliminary Design (Stage 1), one at Developed Design (Stage 2a), and nine at Detailed Design (Stage 2b) and 3 at Tender (Stage 3).

There are also a further 12 projects being progressed under the Modular Programme and the Climate Action Summer Works Scheme.

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.

Priority projects at earlier stages of the pipeline continue to be advanced, with particular emphasis on special schools, schools operating entirely in interim accommodation, projects providing significant special education capacity, additional accommodation to meet demographic growth, and schools with the most pressing building condition issues.

The Department is targeting 2027 for the publication of the next tranche of priority projects to proceed to tender. Prioritisation will be informed by departmental analysis, engagement with patrons and schools, available funding, and, where relevant, findings from the Department's school estate energy and condition survey, which is due to be completed by the end of this year.