Written answer
Schools Building Projects
The school’s application for additional accommodation funding is under consideration, with the department to notify school authorities when it decides. Funding is being prioritised for urgent needs, while the department favours using existing capacity—particularly at primary level, where enrolment is falling.
517. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education and Youth to advise regarding a school project (details supplied). [73973/26]
Comment on this
I can confirm that an application for capital funding under my department's Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme was received from the school in question. The school's application is currently under consideration.
My department has published the NDP (National Development Plan) Sectoral Investment Plan for the Education and Youth Sectors 2026 - 2030. This NDP Sectoral Plan involves a very strong emphasis on maximising existing capacity and prioritisation of school building projects to meet the most urgent needs while within the allocated capital funding across all schools in the country.
This allows my department to keep a strong focus on the provision of additional capacity to cater for demographics, new housing developments and the roll-out of additional special classes for children with additional needs. This approach reflects the department's fundamental objective of ensuring the availability of a school place for every child.
My department will continue to build on the progress made over recent years with the continued rollout of projects on a prioritised basis to meet the most urgent needs in terms of provision of additional capacity and modernisation of existing facilities. In this regard, there will continue to be a strong emphasis on maximising existing capacity across the school estate and also ensuring that school admissions policies and processes are targeted at meeting local mainstream and special class requirements.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has the responsibility for planning and coordinating school supports for children with special educational needs.
The department engages intensely with the NCSE in relation to the forward planning of new special classes and additional special school places. Planning for school place requirements in special classes and special schools for the coming 2027/2028 school year is now under review. This work involves a detailed review of statistical data in relation to forecasting demand for special class places and an analysis of available school accommodation.
In general, demographics have been falling at primary level and are due to continue to decrease. Therefore, the department considers it prudent to maximise the use of existing spare accommodation capacity at primary level in the first instance, before considering any applications for further accommodation needs. This is in line with public spending requirements. In relation to the provision of primary special classes, the shared preference of both the Department and the NCSE is to use and reconfigure existing school accommodation to provide special classes. Given the number of primary special classes available already and the falling demographics, it is also likely that most of the new additional special classes may be required in larger population centres in a local school planning area.
As soon as a decision on the school's application has been made, contact will be made with the school authorities directly.