587. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update on the construction and anticipated opening timeline for the new special school in the Loughshinny area of County Dublin (details supplied); the current expected date for completion of construction and handover of the building; the anticipated date on which the school will open to pupils; and when pupils and staff are expected to transfer from the existing school premises. [65243/26]

The large scale capital project at the school referred to by the Deputy is at Architectural Planning Stage 4 – Construction.

The project brief is to provide a New 16 classroom school for pupils with special educational needs at a greenfield site in Skerries.

The project commenced in June 2025 and works are progressing well on site, it is anticipated that construction will be complete in Quarter 1, 2027.

Department officials are keeping in regular contact with the design team in order to maintain the progression of the project.

I would like to advise the Deputy, since 2020, the Department of Education has provided over €2 billion in capital funding for Dublin schools.

Over this period, a total of 300 schools have been upgraded through provision of either a new school building, extension, modular accommodation or climate pathfinder projects.

20 school projects to go to tender or construction in 2026 and 2027 were included in the NDP Implementation Plan.

There are currently 47 large-scale, extension, modular or climate pathfinder projects in Dublin under construction.

There are also 53 projects underway through the Climate Action Summer Works Scheme.

In addition, since 2020 a total of 541 special classes have been sanctioned in Dublin, of which 140 were sanctioned for September 2026.