147. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reforms she is introducing to accelerate the delivery of school building projects, particularly where schools have been waiting several years to progress through planning, design and construction. [74728/26]

The Department outlined its priorities for NDP funding in the NDP Sectoral Investment Plan published last January. This included 105 projects scheduled to progress to tender or construction in 2026 and 2027. As of mid-October, 56 of these projects (54%) had either been completed, entered construction, or received approval to commence construction. Alongside these projects, approximately 300 large-scale, additional accommodation and modular projects were already in construction at the start of 2026, of which over 130 have since been completed.

Ahead of the summer break, Department officials contacted approximately 250 schools to provide updates on project status, explain stage report reviews and prioritisation processes, and gather information on accommodation needs. Officials also visited a small number of schools with urgent accommodation requirements pending delivery of their major projects. Engagement with schools will continue over the coming months, with guidance provided as needed.

In addition, Planning and Building Unit officials met with all patrons and management bodies in June to outline the Department’s prioritisation approach and seek feedback to inform future tranches.

It is expected that the next tranche of projects to proceed to tender will be published in 2027.  Prioritisation will continue over the coming months to identify this next tranche of projects. This will be informed by latest available demographic and capacity data, the department’s energy and condition inventory (the validation of which is due to be completed by early 2027), opportunities for phased development to prioritise the most urgent accommodation needs and consultation with patrons and management bodies.

Where appropriate, the Department also continues to undertake advance enabling works for urgent and complex large-scale projects, helping to facilitate a smooth transition to construction in the coming years.

Additionally, the School Building Programme continues to deliver small-scale maintenance, and improvement works through initiatives including the Emergency Works Scheme, Summer Works Scheme and Furniture and Equipment Scheme.

Climate action measures also continue to advance, with 297 projects approved under the first tranche of the Climate Action Summer Works Scheme and a second tranche of approved projects due to be announced shortly.

Since 2020, the Department of Education has provided over €119 million in capital funding for County Offaly schools.

Over this period, a total of 45 County Offaly schools have been upgraded through provision of either a new school building, extension, modular accommodation or climate pathfinder projects.

4 school projects to go to tender or construction in 2026 and 2027 were included in the NDP Implementation Plan for County Offaly.

There are currently 7 large-scale, extension, modular or climate pathfinder projects in County Offaly under construction. There are also 5 projects underway through the Climate Action Summer Works Scheme.

In addition, since 2020 a total of 49 special classes have been sanctioned in County Offaly, of which 14 were sanctioned for September 2026.

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.