I thank the Deputy for raising this issue because it gives me the opportunity, on behalf of the Minister for Education and Youth, to outline to the Dáil the position regarding Gaelscoil Chluain Dolcáin in County Dublin. Gaelscoil Chluain Dolcáin is under the patronage of the Archbishop of Dublin. It is located in the Clondalkin-D22 school planning area and has an enrolment of 445 pupils. The Department of Education and Youth is delivering a large-scale major project to provide adjoining new permanent accommodation for both Gaelscoil Chluain Dolcáin and another primary school on the same site. Construction on this project is well advanced, with an expected completion date in the fourth quarter of this year. The school authorities were advised that it was necessary to make provision for special education at the two school buildings due to the significantly increased demand for special classes in their school planning area. The Department examined various options for how best to meet this need including the feasibility of expanding the current scale of the project. However, due to the availability of spare classrooms in the current overall school project and the projected falling mainstream demographics at primary level, the Department decided that the use of these spare mainstream classrooms for special education provision was consistent with the education and youth sector Sectoral Capital Plan 2026-2030. This decision was outlined to the school authorities in detail at a meeting with Department officials in January 2026. While the national development plan, NDP, funding of €7.5 billion for school capital projects is substantial, the Department must manage the progression of a large pipeline of projects and meet the substantially increased need for special education provision within this funding. The Department prioritises projects to balance urgency, equity and available resources, ensuring that investments are sustainable and provide maximum value for money. This includes the optimum use of existing accommodation, particularly surplus accommodation. This allows the 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. Since 2020, the Department has provided over €1,824 million in capital funding for Dublin schools. Over this period, a total of 245 schools have been upgraded through provision of a new school building, a large-scale extension or provision of modular accommodation. There are currently 60 school projects in Dublin under construction. I assure the Deputy that the Department of Education and Youth will support the schools in the practical arrangements for implementing this decision and has organised a meeting between the school authorities and the project's design team in order to explore practical solutions to address issues raised by the schools. Department officials remain committed to working with the school authorities in relation to this matter. I also assure the Deputy that the Department will keep the ongoing position relating to the demand for places in the Clondalkin-D22 school planning area under review. While the Department is aware of enrolment pressures and demand for additional school places in some areas, it is important to note that enrolment pressures can be driven by duplication of applications, applications from outside an area and school-of-choice factors. The Department will continue to liaise with local authorities in respect of their county development plan and any associated local area plans with a view to identifying any potential long-term school accommodation requirements across school planning areas.

Sentiment score: 0.28

Once again, I thank the Deputy for providing me with the opportunity, on behalf of the Minister for education, to outline the position in relation to Gaelscoil Chluain Dolcáin. The Deputy asked me to refer this to the Minister on his behalf. I can promise that I will certainly do so because I can see that it is an issue of real concern, for the Deputy and, I presume, many of his constituents. I will do that. The Deputy will be aware that the Minister, Deputy Naughton, recently published the €7.55 billion NDP sectoral investment plan for the education and youth sectors. Of the total €7.55 billion investment, it is envisaged that circa €5 billion will be used for project roll-out to support the delivery and modernisation of school buildings across the large-scale additional accommodation and modular programmes. The Deputy will appreciate that the Department is required to ensure that the capital funding allocated to the Department is managed across all schools in the country. Indeed, a significant project has been approved for the school in question and will shortly be available for the school's use. As previously stated, Department officials remain available to work school authorities. That is what the Deputy is asking here, and I can tell him that is what it says in the response. They will provide support in any arrangements required to implement the decision regarding their new accommodation. Finally, I assure the Deputy that the accommodation demands and enrolment pressures of both the schools in question, as well as the wider school area planning, will be kept under ongoing review by the Department. As he will be aware, the project brief for this campus project includes construction of two new adjoining 16-classroom primary schools, with a PE hall for a separate post-primary school on a shared campus. I note the most recent nationwide demographic analysis I spoke of earlier was completed in 2023.

Sentiment score: 0.28

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter, which I am answering on behalf of the Minister for Education and Youth, Deputy Naughton. Just like the previous Deputy, I hear the passion in his voice and local knowledge, as well as his understanding of what is at issue for the many families and children there. I guarantee that I will bring it to the attention of the Minister. Aside from that, the Government is committed to the provision of additional special places for children with special educational needs. Budget 2026 secured funding for 3,000 new specialist places in special schools and special classes, and the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, is currently examining where these places are best located for the 2026-27 school year. Over 2,700 new places were provided in the 2025-26 school year, meaning there are now 3,741 special classes nationwide. We will continue to build on this figure while placing provision in locations where it is best placed to meet existing and future demand. As the Deputy is aware, an earlier notification deadline was introduced this year to support forward planning and to earlier equip the NCSE with local information as to what students would be leaving school or transitioning to post-primary specialist places or regarding those seeking specialist placement and entering the education system for the first time. This information is critical when examining where provision needs to be placed to meet demand. The Department and the NCSE continue to work closely with school patron bodies, school management bodies and schools to confirm new special classes for the next school year 2026-27. The NCSE began sanctioning new special classes last month, which is several months earlier than last year. A total of 387 have been sanctioned to date and many more new special classes will be confirmed in the coming weeks. A total of 85 of these new classes are being provided in County Dublin, and six of them are in the Dublin North-West constituency. As for the modular project for Finglas Parochial National School, the application for planning permission was submitted and the local authority requested further information, which was submitted to them in January 2026. The local authority has recently requested clarification on the further information submission, and I can say this is being submitted to them today. As I said, I hear what the Deputy has said about the huge challenge this presents for parents and families and perhaps, the knowledge that at least this level of progress has been made may be of some assistance to them. The project itself will be delivered as quickly as possible after receipt of planning permission, and with the support of project managers. The earlier sanction of new classes provides clarity for parents and allows schools more time for the planning and establishment of new special classes. As I said, budget 2026 has provided significant funding for over 400 new special classes. I wish to stress that the NCSE will continue to support all children made known to it after this date. However, it is important for planning purposes that an earlier timeframe is worked to in which the NCSE has as much local knowledge and detail as possible in order to plan what new provision is required.

Sentiment score: 0.40

I thank the Deputy again for raising the question and giving me the opportunity to reassure the House that the Department of Education and Youth and the NCSE are committed to ensuring that all children can access an education suitable to their needs. The Department continues to engage intensively with the NCSE in regard to the forward planning for new special provision to ensure every child has a place in an educational setting best suited to their educational needs. It is important to remember that the vast majority of students with special educational needs are supported to attend school in mainstream classes with their peers. Central to this are the 15,000 special education teachers and 12,500 special needs assistants allocated to mainstream settings. For children with more complex needs, special classes or special school places are provided. This is in keeping with the policy on inclusive education, which provides that children will be supported to receive an education in the most inclusive setting possible. In County Dublin, 705 special classes are now in operation, providing capacity for 4,230 students, and that includes 103 new special classes for this school year. I hear what the Deputy is saying. He is concerned about a specific school and the needs of the students and families there. I fully understand that. Hopefully, based on the information that I gave earlier, the further clarification that had been requested by the local authority was submitted to it today. Although I do not know, I hope that speeds up the process for the delivery of this project. I am sure the Deputy has already been in contact with the Minister with regard to the need for a meeting.

Sentiment score: 0.41

I thank the Deputy for the question. It is clear that he has been in the position I am in now, and he understands the circumstances. I must give him the response that I have been provided with. In whatever way I can, I will try to address the Deputy’s questions. They give me the opportunity, on behalf of the Minister, to outline the current position in relation to the joint school project for St. John Bosco Junior Boys School, St. John Bosco Senior Boys School and Mary Help of Christians Girls National School, all in Dublin 7. This joint school building project will deliver two new 16-classroom primary schools with additional classrooms for children with special educational needs for both the senior boys' school and the girls' school, and a new 11-classroom primary school with additional classrooms for children with special educational needs for the junior boys' school. Initially, as the Deputy pointed out, it had been anticipated that this joint project would be delivered in the form of an extension and refurbishment. However, due to a scope change to include an increase in the number of classrooms for children with special educational needs, it was decided that new school buildings would be provided. The design team submitted the initial stage 1 report in April 2023, and following the submission of an addendum report in August 2023, the project was approved to the next stage. The design team submitted its stage 2A submission report in January 2024. Upon review, some key concerns were identified by the Department. From January 2024 to May 2025, there was significant communication between the design team and the Department to discuss and assist in progressing the stage 2A submission to include a review and audit of the floor area schedules, and to refine some design elements to meet the approved schedule of accommodation. Upon receipt of the revised stage 2A report, Department officials carried out an initial review, and in early June 2025, a further meeting was held, with the wider design team, school authorities and Department officials in attendance. At that meeting, the school was provided with a progress update and advised that the design team was due to submit an addendum stage 2A report to the Department. The outstanding information for the addendum stage 2A report was received by the Department on 31 October last year and is under review by Department officials. In July the Government announced a capital allocation of €7.55 billion for the Department of Education and Youth for the period 2026 to 2030 under the national development plan. As the Deputy is aware, as part of this allocation the 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 the project roll-out 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 to provide necessary additional capacity through targeted and prioritised project roll-out over the course of 2026 to 2030. Deputy O'Gorman asked about a date for a meeting with the school design team and how one gets on the priority list. I suspect that virtually every TD in the Dáil would like an answer to that question. That does not take away from the fact that he wants and needs it and these schools need to hear about it. I will pass on his request to the Minister and, hopefully, she will be able to give him some assistance.

Sentiment score: 0.27

I thank the Deputy. I recognise there are schools with important building projects that are not included in the first tranche of prioritised projects. As part of planning ahead for the next tranche of projects to progress to tender, the Department-led prioritisation process will continue over the course of 2026 and 2027 to assess and evaluate the progression of individual projects through the design pipeline, having regard to the continual need to maximise existing capacity and determine the prioritised need going forward. This process will involve engagement with key stakeholders and individual schools and will ultimately inform the next tranche of programme roll-out to tender. The Department-led energy and condition survey of the school estate which will be finalised later in 2026 will provide an additional evidence base for assessing priorities. Based on this ongoing prioritisation process, some projects may be added to the list over the course of 2026 and 2027, having regard to their prioritisation and urgency of need and taking account also of the ongoing ability to progress them to tender and construction within the parameters of overall funding. Where appropriate, the Department will also assess opportunities to undertake advance enabling works for the most urgent and complex projects to facilitate a smooth progress to construction in 2028 and beyond. I promise I will ask the Minister the question the Deputy posed to me.

Sentiment score: 0.43

I am happy to take this Topical Issue on behalf of the Minister for Transport. I thank the Deputy for the opportunity to address the issue in the House this evening. Improving public transport services and infrastructure is central to improving citizens' quality of life and addressing our climate action challenge. The Government is committed to a fundamental change in the nature of transport in Ireland. There is a substantial number of people in regional towns, the rural hinterland and in the metropolitan area who do not have ease of access to high-quality public transport by walking or cycling. Appropriately located and designed park-and-ride facilities can enable them to access public transport and enhance their options to reach a wide range of destinations in a sustainable manner. The National Transport Authority, NTA, has responsibility for planning and developing park-and-ride sites. It is leading the development and roll-out of strategic park-and-ride sites nationwide through the park and ride development office, which was established in 2020. Within this policy framework, the transport strategy for the greater Dublin area for 2022 to 2042 has identified various zones of intervention along corridors on the approach to Dublin city. They include two park-and-ride sites along the M7, namely, a rail-based park-and-ride facility in Sallins, which will provide 1,000 extra parking spaces, and a bus-based park-and-ride facility in Kill, with an extra 500 spaces. Significant work has already been undertaken to advance proposals for the 500-space bus-based strategic park-and-ride site at Kill. However, the project remains at preliminary design stage owing to the landowner having withdrawn from negotiations in respect of the NTA's preferred site. Work on the Kill project will continue during 2026 as resources and funding permit. The proposed Sallins facility is listed as a priority project within the NTA's greater Dublin area transport strategy, which also includes the planned extension, in the longer term, of high-capacity, high-frequency electrified DART services to Sallins and Naas. The park-and-ride site will integrate with the DART+ programme and services when both projects are completed. larnród Éireann is also working to deliver increased parking at rail stations nationwide. This includes recently completed works at Kildare and ongoing preliminary design work for Athy and Carlow. Works at Newbridge and Hazelhatch have been identified as medium-term objectives. In addition, larnród Éireann is currently in the process of updating its national car park strategy, which may identify further station locations along the M7 and M9 catchment area.

Sentiment score: 0.09

As I noted in my reply, the NTA is progressing park-and-ride sites at Sallins and Kill, which together will provide more than 1,500 additional car parking spaces, as part of its co-ordinated programme of park-and-ride development at strategic locations. In addition to this work, collaborative work is ongoing with Iarnród Éireann to deliver increased parking at existing rail stations nationally. That includes the recently completed works at Kildare. I acknowledge what the Deputy said about that car park not being sufficient to accommodate the number of cars currently seeking to use it. The work also includes ongoing preliminary design work for Athy and Carlow, with works at Newbridge and Hazel being identified as mid-term objectives. If there are lessons to be learned from what happened in Kildare, I hope those lessons will, indeed, be learned. Iarnród Éireann is also updating its national car park strategy, which may identify further locations along the M7 and M9 catchment area. Collectively, these projects will support reduced car dependency, lower congestion and improve public transport accessibility for commuters travelling into the greater Dublin area. As far as other projects are concerned, the NTA is currently working with TII on the feasibility of bus priority measures for the N7 corridor, which most likely will be in the form of hard-shoulder bus running. Enhanced bus priority would make bus-based trips along the corridor more desirable and would also support the delivery of bus-based park-and-ride schemes. Iarnród Éireann is also looking at delivering increased parking at existing rail stations nationally. I have already mentioned those stations and will not go through them again. I thank the Deputy for raising this issue.

Sentiment score: 0.16