87. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Youth her plans to provide the funding to allow all school building projects in Carlow and Kilkenny to move to the next phase of the process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40603/26]

Sentiment score: 0.08

I ask about schools in Kilkenny that are on the list waiting to be approved to move forward. I want to raise serious concerns in the school community regarding the Kilkenny City Vocational School, which is a DEIS school. Alongside that there is Coláiste Pobal Osraí. These will form the Kilkenny school campus. We spent €3.5 million on the grounds work. The planning permission expires in 2027 and the lease in 2028. The Minister visited recently, and I would like to hear that this will make progress.

Sentiment score: 0.15

It is extremely important that this project moves forward because it has a huge impact on the schools and their development. The lease expires in 2028, and the planning permission is due to expire in 2027. The Minister is right to say investment has been good in Carlow and Kilkenny but there is always a focus on the ones we are waiting for. The Minister met with the community school in Castlecomer when she was there. I also drew her attention to Church Hill National School and Scoil Mhuire in Mooncoin. Given the numbers and because they are ready to go and are trying to accommodate special needs and so on, it is important that these schools be given a clear indication through the course of this year as to their standing and the possibility for funding. I hope the Minister will engage directly with those schools I have mentioned to ensure they are moved to their next phase, and to keep focus on the Kilkenny school campus.

Sentiment score: 0.34

There are capacity issues in some of the schools I have mentioned, like Church Hill National School in Cuffesgrange and Scoil Mhuire in Mooncoin. Then there is the issue of Castlecomer's school, which has 634 students. That project is shovel-ready and the school wants to get on with that work. There has been such a long wait for the Kilkenny school campus. Planning permission is there. Some €3.5 million has already been spent on the groundworks and the planning permission will expire. I keep on emphasising that and will continue to because the school needs to know where it is going before the end of July. It cannot be left until next year for the school to be given some sort of indication, because that will force it back into the planning process. The school will also lose time and see site costs increase. The other interesting thing about schools is the renting of prefabs. This has cost Church Hill National School €480,000 to date. As such, there is a really urgent case for investment in all of those schools.

Sentiment score: 0.08