102. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Education and Youth the proportion of the additional school building and capital investment funding announced in Budget 2027 is expected to support school accommodation projects in rapidly growing constituencies such as Kildare north. [74875/26]

The capital allocation available to the Department of Education and Youth in 2027 is €1.6 billion, representing a very significant level of investment in the school estate.

This will support the delivery of many important projects in County Kildare, an area of demographic growth, and across the country.

There has already been a significant level of investment in school infrastructure in County Kildare with investment since 2020 alone totalling €261 million in North Kildare and €203 million in South Kildare.

Eight projects are currently on site across Kildare North, including the construction of new school buildings for Gaelscoil Ruairí, Maynooth, and Coláiste Naomh Mhuire, Naas. In addition, a project at Scoil Uí Riada, Kilcock, has progressed to the tender stage.

There are also 7 projects on site in Kildare South including new school buildings for Patrician Secondary School and Curragh Community College. In addition, a project at Scoil Naomh Cill Daingin, has progressed to the tender stage.

Furthermore, 33 large-scale and additional accommodation projects are progressing through the design pipeline in County Kildare: 7 at Preliminary Design (Stage 1), 15 at Developed Design (Stage 2a), 11 at Detailed Design (Stage 2b).

Two of the Stage 2b projects, the new school buildings for St. Farnan’s, Prosperous and St. Anne's Special School, Ballymany Cross have been included in the priority tranche of projects published in January as part of NDP Rollout.

There are also 20 projects being progressed across County Kildare under the Modular Programme and the Climate Action Summer Works Scheme.

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 in early 2027.

I would also highlight the participation of post-primary schools in Celbridge and Maynooth in the ongoing ‘Apply to School’ pilot common application system. This pilot is facilitating applications for admission to all schools, for all children, in a streamlined, efficient way that significantly reduces stress for parents and children.

I can assure the Deputy that the Department of Education and Youth remains committed to the delivery of high-quality school infrastructure to meet demand in County Kildare and around the country.