316. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide and update and a timetable for when construction works at a school (details supplied) will be completed. [67718/26]

317. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide an update and timeframe for construction works at a school (details supplied) to be completed. [67716/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 316 and 317 together.

The construction works referred to by the Deputy relate to the provision of SEN classrooms at St. John Bosco Senior Boys National School.

In early July 2026, while the school were on summer holidays, works commenced on the installation of the new modular units.

Works remain to be carried out on the external soft play area and it is anticipated these works will be carried out during the October mid-term break, weather permitting.

The joint major project for St. John Bosco Junior BNS, St. John Bosco Senior BNS and Mary Help of Christians Girls NS has a significant decant attached therefore, going forward these two new modular units will be used as part of the decant element of the major project also. The major project at this school is currently at Stage 2A - Developed Sketch Scheme which includes the development of the design and accurately cost planning the option agreed with the client.

Since 2020, my department has invested over €7 billion in our schools throughout the country under the National Development Plan, involving the completion of over 1,600 school building projects along with over 4,300 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. In the region of 85% of new special classes in 2026/27 are being facilitated in repurposed classroom accommodation. This investment has delivered real benefits for school communities.

A total capital allocation of €7.55 billion for the Department of Education and Youth has been confirmed 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.

As part of the NDP Implementation Plan for the education and youth sector, a first tranche of projects to progress to tender and/or construction during 2026 and 2027 was published in January 2026. Prioritisation will continue to identify further tranches of projects to proceed to tender and construction over the NDP period, with stakeholder consultation ongoing.

Our 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.

I wish to inform the Deputy that my Department has provided over €2 billion in capital funding for Dublin schools since 2020.

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.