Public Transport
7. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation for an update on the infrastructure projects currently being undertaken in Dublin West; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10742/26]
I ask the Minister for an update on infrastructure projects for the Dublin West constituency. The focus of my question is public transport, because of the litany of woes I hear about from constituents daily who, because of the other investment we have had, do not have access to the Luas or a metro. We have one of the largest populations in the city. People are suffering daily in their lives trying to get to work and get their children to school. What investment in public transport in particular will be provided?
As part of the budgetary process each year, my Department sets overall expenditure ceilings for each ministerial Vote group. These are laid out in the budget day expenditure report, with further detail provided in the Revised Estimates published in December.
Following the allocation of each expenditure ceiling, each Minister designs the programmes and subhead level across Departments and the agencies under their remit, accounting for the demands for services in different areas and regions and having regard to demographics, population growth and other factors. Within this process, current and capital expenditure are allocated on a departmental basis.
More broadly, the Government wants to achieve balanced regional development as part of Project Ireland 2040, the national planning framework and the spatial strategy, as part of the national development plan. Since Project Ireland 2040 was launched in 2018, the Government has overseen the delivery of many impactful national development plan projects across the country, including in Dublin West, such as the recently completed teaching building in Technological University Dublin Blanchardstown and the provision of hundreds of social and affordable housing units in Church Fields, Mulhuddart, some of which have been completed while others are being built. There have been multiple school projects across the Dublin West constituency. Many projects have been completed and are planned for Connolly Hospital.
Regarding transport commitments, the Deputy is aware of the wider Bus Connects plan, which is being progressed by the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and Dart West has advanced through the planning process. Arising from the national development plan published in July last year, €19.1 million in Exchequer capital investment will be provided in 2026. This increases capital investment across the country that will generate substantial employment demand in the construction sector.
Departments have also published sectoral investment plans setting out the capital projects to prioritise for 2026-30. These plans provide visibility of the delivery pipeline, giving construction firms the certainty they need to invest as part of the multi-year approach designed to support industry planning and ensure that regional capacity can grow in line with demand. I will come back in on some of the other items.
I have received many representations from people about the odyssey of the 39 bus route. Every time there is a new development, it is added to the same route without new or distinct routes being created. There needs to be change. I want to focus on the Tyrrelstown-Hollystown area because that is where much if the additional building has taken place. Public transport in the area is particularly atrocious.
For a female worker from Tyrrelstown trying to get to her job in Dublin Port every morning, there is no connection to the N4 route at Rosemount Business Park and buses do not arrive early enough to allow her to get to work. Many people report having to get taxis to work. One day in particular, it cost the woman in question €67 to get from Tyrrelstown to work. The 238 is a ghost bus. It is the only route to the town centre in Blanchardstown. Parking charges are being proposed for the centre, but people do not even have a reliable bus service to get there. In a moment, I will talk about Hollystown and changes to BusConnects.
I acknowledge the particular issue that exists. I meet with many constituents from both Tyrrelstown and Hollystown, where the bus service does need to be much improved. There has been a significant increase in housing supply in Tyrrelstown and Hollystown, but there is a need to improve the service for the sake of many of the existing residents. Part of the BusConnects plan is to deliver that, which is obviously more on the infrastructure side, but there is also a need improve the frequency of buses and the respective bus routes that service Tyrrelstown and Hollystown. This is something I have engaged on frequently with the National Transport Authority in relation to the additional service roll-out in the period ahead. I have also interacted with BusConnects to ensure that those involved future-proof further developments in the context of areas, including Tyrrelstown and Hollystown, where there has been or will be significant population growth. People in both places need access better public transport, as the Deputy referenced. That is a matter on which I continue to engage with those involved.
I accept the Minister's acknowledgement of the position. However, as a Minister who represents the area, he has to deliver for people. Who else is going to be able to do that?
The 40E is going to be replaced by the 262. I have already had two representations about that. The 262 route will terminate before Hollystown. As a result, people in Hollystown will not have a direct route into the city centre. That has to be addressed.
I have been contacted by a huge group of parents who have been told that when the 40E route is replaced, the new route will no longer cross the bridge into Cabra. It will turn onto the Ballyboggan Road instead. This means that people cannot get their children to school in St. Dominic's or in the Navan Road area. That has to be addressed. We have already had issues where people in Tyrrelstown could not get their children to school in Hansfield. They had to organise car pools. Will the Minister speak to TFI and Dublin Bus about that matter? We cannot lose the connectivity people in that area have - they need more - in order to get to work and to get their kids to school.
There have been issues for people in Hollystown. Some even have quite a long walk to get to the existing bus stop. There is a need to improve the existing service but also to reflect the feedback people have given in respect of the various bus routes. Like the Deputy, I will engage with the National Transport Authority on some of the amendments that need to be made to the bus routes and in the context of reflecting the feedback we are getting from constituents. The authority needs to future-proof the transport system in the area in light of ongoing population growth. There is a need to improve in that context, and I will pursue that.
Stáisiúin Gharda
8. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the status of the proposed new Garda station for Northern Cross in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10080/26]
I did not find the answers earlier on estimated levels of service convincing ar chor ar bith. I have a briefing tomorrow and I look forward to that.
When the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, has responsibility for the OPW in 2019, a site was identified for a new Garda station at Northern Cross. It was announced that a new station would be provided. Seven years later, however, there is no sign of that Garda station. In replies to parliamentary questions last year, the Minister of State referred to needing to identify a site when one was identified seven years ago and was in the pipeline for years before that. Does he have an update on this matter? Ba mhaith liom freagra ceart.
The Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration published its sectoral investment plan on 4 December last. The second phase of the plan is to focus on bringing the projects for Dublin metropolitan region, DMR, north, to construction in 2028. Following the publication of these priorities, the OPW will engage with An Garda Síochána and the Department of justice. This engagement will support the identification and appraisal of the most suitable site for this project.
I welcome the indication that the station will be constructed in 2028. What I am struggling with are the references to identifying a site, particularly when a site was announced in 2019 when he had responsibility for the OPW. How is that seven years after this project was announced – and there were senior Ministers from the Government out announcing it at Northern Cross – the Minister of State is still talking about identifying a site? The announcement was made by the Government before last at a time when he was Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW.
The Deputy has raised this consistently at committee meetings and in the House, and I agree with him about the timeframe and the delays. As he is well aware, however, I am the contracting authority. I build the Garda station when a particular project is presented to me.
As already stated, money has been provided for the station. My Department will work closely with the Department of justice and An Garda Síochána. I cannot explain why work at the site to which the Deputy refers did not go ahead. However, I can tell the Deputy that the money for the project has been made available through the development plan. My job is to work with the Department of justice. When we find a site, we will get on with the job. We are delivering Garda stations around the country. The projects in this regard are very slow - I am not taking away from that - but an awful lot of work goes into identifying sites and building stations.
The situation is that the money is there and the Department is committed to building the station in 2028. A site was identified and announced by the Government in 2019 when the Minister of State had responsibility for the OPW. He is still talking about identifying a site when he previously identified such a site seven years ago. I do not understand this. How is it the case that, seven years later, we appear to be going backwards? The Minister of State is still talking about identifying a site. A site was announced by the Government before last when he had responsibility for the OPW. Can he explain to the community in Northern Cross, which desperately needs this new Garda station, what is happening? There has been huge development in recent years in Clongriffin and Belmane and a corresponding increase in population. Why is he referring to identifying a site when one was identified seven years ago and an announcement that a new Garda station would be built there was made?
It was seven years ago, as the Deputy said. A site was identified, but I cannot tell the Deputy why the project did not go ahead. I have been out of government for five years. I am back. The Deputy raised this with me at committee level. I reached out to the Department of justice, on his behalf and on that of other Deputies who represent the area, to try to bring this scheme forward. I am asked every type of question in this House about the building of Garda stations. As stated, I am the contracting authority. Until a project comes before me, I cannot build. When a project does come before me, I will do it. I will speak to the Minister for justice in order to see how we can expedite this matter and bring it to a conclusion. I promise the Deputy that.
Flood Relief Schemes
9. Deputy Catherine Ardagh asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if, in view of the impact of flooding in Dublin, he will expedite the Camac river flood alleviation scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10563/26]
This question relates to the Camac flood alleviation programme. The Camac, as we know, is one of Dublin’s main rivers. It rises in Saggart in the south west, flows eastwards towards Clondalkin, Bluebell, Inchicore and Kilmainham and joins the Liffey at Heuston Station. The River Camac flood alleviation scheme is a critically important piece of infrastructure that will help up to 413 homes along the river. Residents quite clearly remain concerned about flood risk, particularly in view of the increased rainfall we have seen. In January 2025, the bank of the River Camac at Inchicore collapsed. Will the Minister of State provide a timeline in respect of this matter.
Dublin City Council and South Dublin County Council, with funding provided by the OPW, are leading the development and design of the River Camac flood alleviation scheme to manage the flooding risk within the catchment of the River Camac to protect some 413 properties. The River Camac is an unusually complex river system, and has presented significant challenges during the modelling of the flood risk and the design options for a flood relief scheme. Work on the modelling of the flood risk is continuing and it is programmed to be completed later this year. There are monthly meetings of the steering group between the council, the OPW and the consultants to complete this work.
The proposed Camac flood alleviation scheme may include the construction of new flood defence walls with floodgates and the possible strengthening and raising of existing flood defence walls. The construction of new flood defence embankments is in addition to the possible raising of existing embankments. The current estimated cost for the delivery of the scheme is €50 million.
It is open to Dublin City Council to apply to the OPW for funding for flood mitigation works under the OPW's minor flood mitigation works and coastal protection scheme in advance of the delivery of the main scheme. The purpose of the scheme is to provide funding to local authorities to undertake minor flood mitigation works or studies to address localised flooding and coastal protection problems within their administrative areas. The OPW welcomes applications for funding under the scheme and is available to engage with local authorities.
I know first hand the pain people out there are going through out there. As I said to the Deputy, while we are waiting for the long-term scheme, there is a strong possibility that the local authority could engage around the minor works programme. I have not spoken to the Deputy before in relation to this but I have visited a lot of the areas up and down the country. I tell people that I read the water and I understand when there is a flood. I watch where the water recedes and follow the water paths. I always look at them in the context of a minor works application or some solution being found. I believe one can be found here.
I thank the Minister of State. We were told at the Committee of Public Accounts that there were issues with the initial hydraulic modelling. It has gone back to the same consultants to remedy the situation, which raises its own questions. Residents understand that the modelling has to be correct and robust and no one is looking for a shortcut. We are also not looking for a patchwork quilt in relation to this. The Minister of State is telling us to go back to Dublin City Council for any remedial works. That is not good enough. I am asking the Minister of State to expedite the situation, bring in the relevant people, ask them what is going on, get a good feel for it and give the residents of Kilmainham and Inchicore a timeline for when this is going to be done. It has been delayed for far too long.
In the first instance, it is up to the local authority to come forward with the scheme and the Deputy can play a pivotal role in doing that. She can go into the local authority and ask what stage it is at and look to engage with me. The Deputy can be part of that. It is about us all working together. Communities are being affected up and down the country. My job is as Minister of State but I keep saying in the House that I need help from all the public representatives as well as TDs to drive on these schemes. There is a minor works scheme and funding has been increased from €750,000 to €2 million. It is open to all local authorities to come in and identify a solution in the short term while we are waiting. I agree with the Deputy that this has been going on quite a long time. To bring it to the next stage, if the Deputy can get the local authorities to agree, I will meet with it to see if we can push it on together.
With all due respect, I think I have raised this at every possible forum. I have raised it in Dublin City Council, with the Minister of State's predecessor, at the Committee of Public Accounts and in the Dáil. We are all on the same page here. What we are not seeing is any urgency from the OPW to steer this scheme and programme. It is one of the flood alleviation programmes that is just left on the sidelines. I ask the Minister of State today to commit to me that he will take a personal interest in the Camac flood alleviation programme. That is all I am asking. I want the Minister of State to take a personal interest and have his own meeting. I have asked Dublin City Council, South Dublin County Council and senior representatives of the OPW at the Committee of Public Accounts,and all I am hearing is that there are significant delays with hydraulic modelling. I want the Minister of State to take a personal interest in the Camac flood alleviation scheme.
I cannot be more clear than to say it is driven by the local authorities. They work with my Department. There are significant delays in the modelling but I am giving the Deputy a way to alleviate that pressure through the minor works programme while we wait for the overall scheme. The local authorities have it within their remit to do that. While I fully appreciate the pressure the Deputy is under from the local community, delivering protection to the local community is very important. Local authorities are the people who drive on these schemes. We support them with the advice and the finance but we also help them to deliver schemes. The local authorities know only too well about the minor works scheme and I believe they can play a pivotal role in delivering an interim solution to the problem the Deputy is raising. I will go further and will talk to the local authorities for the Deputy.
As I said, everywhere is gone over the last 15 days, I have to intervene to try to drive on schemes, when the local authorities have the resources - sometimes we are funding them - and the means to get on with the scheme. People will say it is the OPW but it is not and we have to wake up to that. We all have to work together. I am sick of saying that in this House. We should not play politics with flooding. Sometimes we do have to say the scheme is there and the money is there, so get a scheme in place in the interim to deliver part of the long-term solution. As the Deputy has asked me, I will make phone calls to see how I can drive on the scheme further.
I thank the Minister of State.
Coastal Erosion
10. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if funding will be provided to tackle costal erosion and flooding in Rossbeigh, Waterville, Kenmare, Tralee, Listowel, Glenbeigh, Dooks, Cromane Lower, Killorglin and Glosha; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10966/26]
I am raising the matter of funding for a host of locations across County Kerry, including Rossbeigh, Cromane Lower, Killorglin, Whitestrand, Cahersiveen, Waterville, Ballinskelligs and the major flood relief schemes there for Tralee and Kenmare.
I am very familiar with the coastal erosion and flooding issues in Kerry having visited the county twice, on 11 and 12 September and on 20 and 21 November 2025. Localised coastal erosion and flooding issues are a matter, in the first instance, for each local authority to investigate and address. The OPW is working closely with Kerry County Council to implement a number of initiatives to tackle coastal erosion and flooding in the county. We are currently funding three local authority staff in Kerry County Council to manage the delivery of flood relief schemes: a senior executive engineer, an executive engineer and a senior staff member.
The minor flood mitigation works and coastal protection scheme was introduced by the Office of Public Works in 2009. The purpose of this scheme is to provide 90% of funding to local authorities to undertake minor flood mitigation works and studies to address localised flooding or coastal erosion problems. The scheme generally applies where a solution can be readily identified and achieved in a short timeframe. The funding available for each scheme has recently been increased from €750,000 to €2 million. Further details related to this are due to be announced shortly. The minor works scheme is a demand-led scheme. Funding allocated is based on the cost submitted by the local authorities for consideration. Since 2009, the OPW has approved some 40 projects and €4.2 million for Kerry County Council under the minor works schemes. Some €2.9 million of this approved funding relates to coastal erosion works and studies. Funding has been made available to Kerry County Council, totalling €897,405, for works or studies at Rossbeigh, Waterville, Kenmare, Glenbeigh and Cromane Lower through the minor works scheme. I have a long list of other schemes that I can give to the Deputy afterwards.
We need coastal protection works, flood relief schemes and marram grass initiatives, among other initiatives. We need to expedite funding for these schemes. From my experience, and I have been shouting about coastal erosion and flooding for almost 40 years now, this situation is not given the urgency it deserves. We seem to wait until the damage is done after big storms where there has been major flooding and homes have been destroyed. I am dealing with families living in fear when the tides are high, especially when they coincide with storms. They cannot sleep in their beds at night.
I will mention another issue we spoke about recently, which is the whole area of insurance. I am coming across numerous families who cannot get home insurance. They can get insurance for fire, theft and all the other matters but they cannot get cover for flooding.
Looking at the figures, there was €24,000 for the seawall in north Kerry through the minor works scheme. For the North Kerry Way, there was €18,000 through the minor works scheme. There was €150,000 for Tralee Bay, and €44,000 for Tralee itself. For the Fenit Road, there was €405,000, and €360,000 for the Fenit Road Lower. Over €1 million has been given out in recent years. There was €216,000 for Cromane Lower, €35,000 for Waterville, €450,000 for Rossbeigh and €195,000 for Glenbeigh.
The OPW has not been found wanting in supporting Kerry and the local authority. The Deputy knows of my visit there in recent weeks, before Christmas, where we came with interim solutions for different parts of Kerry. We are now looking at coastal areas, but this is driven, in the first instance, by the local authority. I appeal to the Deputy to go out to Portrane to see what the local authority has done to get a licence from the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority, MARA, to deal with flooding. We need local authorities to step up and apply for these licences. In order to apply, they have to show where they are going to carry out works and provide protection to people along the coast. If they do that, they can apply for a MARA licence. I thank the staff in MARA because it is the first time ever we got a licence to do work along the coast. The Deputy can see in Portrane the work that was done to protect that area. I advise Deputy Cahill, as I advise every Deputy in the House, to follow suit and deliver for his community through the local authorities.
I thank the Minister of State. I acknowledge that he visited Kerry and Rossbeigh, where I live, and saw for himself the situation there. There will be a public meeting at 6.30 p.m. this evening in the Towers Hotel. The Minister of State also visited Cromane where homes have been destroyed in the past. I have been in houses when there was 3 ft of saltwater in them.
In 2015, I was a member of a deputation that came here to discuss the cliff road in Rossbeigh, where 16 houses had been cut off. We were told by the then Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, Deputy Simon Harris, that pilot studies needed to be carried out and that he did not want deputations coming up to the Dáil every couple of weeks. It took ten years for the pilot studies to be completed. They will indicate where funding should and should not go. As I mentioned, a host of areas need urgent attention, including Rossbeigh,
Incherea, Dooks in Glenbeigh, lower Bridge Street in Killorglin near the fishery, Cromane Lower, which is critical, Glosha, Whitestrand in Cahersiveen where the public toilets and car park are at risk, Waterville, Ballinskelligs, and the Kenmare and Tralee flood relief schemes.
Deputy Ó Murchú wants to ask a supplementary question.
Le do thoil. The Minister of State will not be shocked when I raise the issues we have had recently in County Louth, particularly in the Dundalk area. In fairness, the Minister of State visited Blackrock. The local authorities stated minor works schemes could be implemented in Dundalk, more so even than Blackrock. The Minister of State has spoken of the need for a personal property scheme to be implemented. He might give some detail on that.
Obviously, we need works done. We have seen coastal erosion recently on the Carlingford Lough greenway. Ballagan has had huge issues, and Antóin Watters and Fiona Mhic Conchoille have been on to me multiple times about that. There was a bun fight with OPW around cleaning the Blackwater river but, according to the Louth local authority, it has found a way through that and it looks like it is willing to clean it, which should have happened previously. However, we also need a conversation with Uisce Éireann to keep the pressure on because we have an infrastructure deficit, with the joint system that is not going to be operated for years. Where I live, we get flooded on the basis that we cannot clear stormwaters and sewage at the same time.
Deputy Cahill is right that I visited Cromane. I met with Michael Healy-Rae's colleague in relation to the same issue only yesterday. I asked him to ask the local authority to come in with minor works for Cromane, and it will be dealt with. Let us call a spade a spade. When I visited the place during Christmas week, I identified areas that could get protection. I looked at the street and we identified one shop, a chemist, that did not flood. Why did it not flood? It put in its own individual property protection, IPP. I reached out that day to the local authorities to look at an IPP system through the minor works programme. I await that because I cannot drive it. I ask the Deputy to drive that with the local authority.
We talked about the flooding of recent days. After the devastation that happened in Enniscorthy, when we were talking about more rain my biggest concern was County Louth. Deputy Ó Murchú's colleagues in the House rang me. I was fearful. My team in the OPW met with the local authorities last week and will continue to engage. I need the local authorities to push on. I am providing staff to the local authority to deliver on those schemes.
Departmental Strategies
11. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the way in which his Department plans to implement a risk scorecard to enable the acceleration of key infrastructure delivery in the next few decades; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11083/26]
I thank Deputy Neville. In December 2025, the Government published the Accelerating Infrastructure Report and Action Plan. It is a comprehensive programme of actions designed to speed up the delivery of critical infrastructure across the State. This action plan responds to well-documented challenges of lengthy development timelines, fragmented processes and rising costs. These have all been identified as major barriers to achieving Ireland’s housing, energy and climate objectives.
The plan sets out 30 targeted actions grouped under four areas, namely, legal reform, regulatory reform and simplification, delivery reform, and public acceptance. My Department has already led on a number of reforms to date, including, but not limited to, the drafting process of the general scheme of the critical infrastructure Bill to be progressed during March, which has been published in the Government’s published legislative agenda; the establishment of a regulatory simplification unit, whose work will include reviewing regulatory structures, governance, oversight and accountability and revising and simplifying different legislation and statutes; and preparing reforms to the infrastructure guidelines, which is being progressed this month.
I have also launched a new service to accelerate major Government capital investment through the expertise of the National Development Finance Agency. We have had the first meeting of the new joint utilities and transport clearing house to have shared collaboration across sectors and greater delivery and co-operation.
Under pillar 3, co-ordination and delivery reform, the aim is to introduce risk appetite statements to enable proportionate oversight and accelerate infrastructure delivery. This action is to provide a better strategic-level risk governance tool that sets a higher level of risk for Government Departments or agencies on what they are willing to tolerate, identifying boundaries on high-risk decisions and wider and clearer expectations for risk oversight. This action is intended to support the creation of a co-ordinated, legally empowered system that reduces delays, improves planning certainty, increases the risk appetite and deals with the wider issues of risk aversion, which have been well documented. Following Government approval, Departments will be asked to define and publish clear, proportionate risk appetite statements for critical infrastructure decisions that can support a higher risk appetite. This will progress better expected benefits of delivery, which would outweigh the potential costs in the context of greater assumed risk. Examples of taking on a higher level of risk could include-----
I thank the Minister.
I will go into that detail shortly.
I thank the Minister very much for his response. I know he is very passionate about this issue, which the Joint Committee on Infrastructure and National Development Plan Delivery has seen. As Vice Chair of that committee, I am very focused on it. As a councillor, I saw a lot of houses being built in north Kildare, for example. I am sure the same applies in the rest of the country. In Celbridge, we need a second bridge. In Leixlip, we need development at the top of Confey and in Maynooth, a relief road is required. These are simple things but we see delays.
A change in culture is required across the Civil Service and local authorities. In fairness, we have significant funding available due to good governance. We have €102 billion available to be spent in the next four years and €275 billion to be spent on capital projects over the next nine years. That is extremely welcome. The reason we need to ensure the right culture and accountability are in place across the Civil Service and local authorities is to ensure we get to spend this money. It is really important that we make sure people make decisions. Sometimes, the most difficult thing in the Civil Service is to make a decision because the worst thing people can do is get something wrong. Sometimes, making no decision is actually better for those individuals. That is what we need to control.
I agree with everything the Deputy said and I appreciate his inputs at the infrastructure committee as well. There are well-documented issues with the existing culture, which has been too risk averse, leading to delays and cost increases. It is too process driven. It is about putting a delivery culture and delivery focus first. That means increasing risk appetite, but also taking practical steps, for example, carrying out early site clearance works in advance of or in parallel with another part of the process or forward ordering of key components for critical infrastructure so we can start a project much quicker while waiting for something else to conclude.
Putting a lot of steps in parallel involves greater risk appetite if something does not happen as expected. It will come down to increasing risk appetite in multiple areas and decision points in the infrastructure lifecycle. The risk appetite statement is about us backing the public service to do this, which could have an adverse effect in a minority of projects but ultimately will yield better delivery and cut through the risk aversion which is well documented.
I really sympathise with the Minister's final point. Potentially mistakes will be made and we must ensure that people will be backed through the various projects. I am a member of the public accounts committee and we look retrospectively at decisions. We need to ensure that people are backed. The main thing is that they are supported and that proper guidelines are in place so they are not afraid to make decisions. This is at all levels, including at the highest level. The Minister has taken responsibility himself centrally. We need to ensure this responsibility is sent out to all areas, such as to the CEOs of local authorities or further down to the local engineers. We need to see delivery on the ground. We all know how the various people in these roles are judged. The question is whether they are judged and held accountable. We know that ultimately the people in this room will be held accountable in 2029 on the doorsteps. I want to ensure that we deliver these projects so that we will get the response we need from people.
It is about having a clear, greater and more proportionate risk appetite statement for many infrastructure decisions. Ultimately we are measured on delivery and it is a process-driven approach. We have circular analysis and delays that will not narrow the infrastructure gap, which is well documented. The risk appetite statement will set out the expected benefits for delivery for a Department or agency, and how the assumption of greater risk outweighs the potential cost. We know that some of the processes we are trying to cut through and cut out in many instances add a significant level of cost to our overall capital spend, which the infrastructure committee has discussed. We will define and publish these in quarter 2 of this year. This is a clear signal to the public service to get on with delivery and have a delivery focus first. It will allow for a broader rebalancing. In terms of the public accounts committee and others, the risk appetite statements will provide a context in the years to come when, hopefully, we will have a higher level of delivery for the infrastructure committee. This will have to be seen in the context of wider assessments when analysing spend.
Capital Expenditure Programme
12. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation if the infrastructure guidelines have been amended as per action 23 of the Accelerating Infrastructure Report and Action Plan, including for increased project expenditure thresholds; the removal of the external assurance process and enhanced timelines for the preparation of the preliminary business case; when infrastructure projects can expect to benefit from the new guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10933/26]
Tugaim faoi deara ar maidin go bhfuil go leor de na ceisteanna ar an téama céanna, ar nós an chinn a bhí ag mo chomhghleacaí ar mo thaobh clé anseo maidir le cúrsaí infreastruchtúir agus an luas ar breá linn a fheiceáil le cur chun cinn i gcúrsaí infreastruchtúir agus infreastruchtúr a thógáil níos tapúla. Roimh an Nollaig, d'fhoilsigh an tAire an tuairisc nua. Before Christmas the Minister printed the Accelerating Infrastructure Report and Action Plan. I saw it described as one of the most comprehensive and ambitious Irish Government reports of recent times. This ambition is due to the number of actions and the timeline laid out for the completion of these actions. I want to ask about one in particular, which is action 23.
I thank Deputy Connolly and I appreciate his support on this. My Department is responsible for the infrastructure guidelines, which replaced the public spending code for capital appraisal since the end of 2023. These set the value for money requirements and guidance for evaluating, planning and managing Exchequer-funded capital projects. Management and delivery of investment projects and public services within allocation and the national frameworks is a key responsibility of every Department, Accounting Officer and Minister.
Action 23 in the accelerating infrastructure report, published in December 2025, commits my Department to streamline and speed up the project approvals process by amending the infrastructure guidelines. In line with this action, I brought a memorandum to Government this week on the following changes to the infrastructure guidelines. In relation to major projects, the threshold will increase from €200 million to €500 million for sectors with a well-established track record of delivery, particularly in the energy, transport and water sectors. The external assurance process will be replaced with a streamlined and time-bound internal review by the Department for all sectors to save significant time. Major projects at approval gate 2 will no longer need ministerial approval and may now be approved solely by the Accounting Officer of the Department that is funding the proposed project. Ministers will continue to be involved at approval gates 1 and 3, which are the critical decision points. Trying to remove duplicate and unnecessary steps to save time has been the central objective for us in government.
These changes will remove unnecessary time delays for critical infrastructure projects while retaining the necessary governance and oversight arrangements to ensure value for money for the taxpayer. In particular, the removal of the external assurance process, which was taking on average 20 weeks, will ensure projects move more rapidly through the delivery lifecycle while ensuring projects over a particular threshold will see the major project advisory group involved.
These and other recommendations in the action plan, including on the introduction of administrative guidance on timelines for preliminary business case assessment and maintaining a maximum length, will be included in the overall public financial management and control framework as part of the wider review of public financial procedures. Saving time and improving delivery is our wider focus.
I welcome the Minister's confirmation that we are not removing political approval for these projects. There was some concern about the elimination of ministerial approval at stage 2 of the project timeline but the Minister has clarified that ministerial approval will still be required at stages 1 and 3. This is very welcome. There was a sense that we were moving on and leaving decisions to unelected officials rather than Ministers.
One of the reasons I have focused on this action plan is because of its reference to transport and water infrastructure. We are all familiar with delays in the progression of major transport infrastructure and major water infrastructure. One of the things outlined in the action is that the approval processes in transport are to be reviewed to identify opportunities to eliminate duplication. Uisce Éireann receives a lot of criticism for how it implements infrastructural plans but it is clear now that the guidelines we have set down for it are part of the reason for this. At present, Uisce Éireann business cases must be approved through the infrastructure guidelines and by the CRU. Will the Minister provide clarity on transport and water in particular, and on the elimination of dual processes?
On Deputy Connolly's first point, this is removing an unnecessary middle step which was adding time. The critical points are approval of the preliminary business case, which sets the political direction for a project to be advanced with prospective capital spend, and final approval for a contract award, which involves the respective Minister. Again, it removes a middle step which did not provide value and just added time. This is what is being changed.
In terms of transport and water projects, we will have a regulatory simplification unit to look at the wider regulatory landscape where we have duplication of approvals, whether through the CRU or other respective bodies. The changes we are making relate to the thresholds and will significantly help the better delivery of water infrastructure in the State by moving the threshold from €200 million to €500 million. There are certain dual approvals required and, in some instances in transport, sometimes more than two approvals required and multiple agencies regulatory bodies are involved. This will be assessed by the regulatory simplification unit to simplify the approval process and avoid duplication, as Deputy Connolly has referenced, to speed up delivery.
I thank the Minister. I would like clarity. The emphasis and focus in action 30 is on transport and water. Will the Minister confirm that it is not limited to these and that we are looking at using this action in other areas? The Minister mentioned energy at the outset. Further clarification on my next point would also be welcome. How do projects in the planning process stand in terms of this new action? Will they benefit from it? I hope we will get a positive planning decision, although it cannot be guaranteed, on the Galway city ring road. We would like to see this project move quickly should a positive planning decision come through. Another project on my mind is the quay in Rossaveel, which is in the planning process. I hope both of these, should they be granted planning approval, can move quite quickly to construction. Will the Minister clarify the status of those projects that have already been granted planning permission, such as the passing loop in Oranmore? Will there will be a difference in how projects in the planning process and projects that have completed the planning process are treated by this action plan?
We have taken every step in the infrastructure life cycle and tried to cut time. The Deputy referenced transport and water. We have the joint utilities and transport clearing house. That reflects those key sectors which build the foundations of any community in terms of water, energy and transport infrastructure. Improving co-ordination in how that wider infrastructure is delivered is part of that objective. All the utilities are involved in that, including Eirgrid and the ESB in the context of infrastructure.
We will advance the critical infrastructure Bill, which will help set the prioritisation and political direction for the Government and the Oireachtas around particular projects. That could be in advance of projects going into the planning process. With some of the projects that are in the planning process, the wider risk when they leave it is that licensing and consents are sometimes required. We are reforming that area so we can deliver some of them in parallel. The risk of judicial review also hangs over a lot of projects. The reforms we will advance this year in the context of judicial reviews are to try to deal with that issue. One of the major issues when a project receives permission is whether it can actually start it if there is a threat of judicial review. My colleagues and I are also advancing that reform.
Strategic Infrastructure
13. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation to provide an update on the legislative and non-legislative progress being made to implement the measures recommended in the accelerating infrastructure action plan. [9939/26]
28. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the initiatives his Department is undertaking to speed up the delivery of infrastructure projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11082/26]
61. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the immediate actions that will be taken by his Department to accelerate delivery of critical infrastructure outlined in the accelerating infrastructure action plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10694/26]
77. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation whether performance indicators or delivery targets have been established for the infrastructure division and the accelerating infrastructure task force; if these metrics will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10997/26]
83. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the reforms that will be introduced in his Department to deliver on infrastructure promises made in the accelerating infrastructure action plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10693/26]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 13, 28, 61, 77 and 83 together.
My Department will be managing the monitoring and reporting on delivery of the actions in the Accelerating Infrastructure Report and Action Plan, which will be led within the infrastructure division. The action plan details 30 headline actions for delivery by quarter and sets target outputs and outcomes to be achieved. All lead Departments have continued to engage over recent weeks and days to provide an update on what is meant to be delivered for quarter 4, 2025 and quarter 1, 2026 and the important structural changes within their sectors to aid the delivery of the 30 actions.
All actions required for delivery in 2025 have been completed. Some of the key deliverables include the publication of the NDP review 2025 and the subsequent publication of all sectoral plans. We have also had a wider step-change in investment in the water, transport energy and sectors.
The sectoral plans detail over 200 specific projects that are being prioritised, with a particular focus on projects going to tender and construction in 2026 and 2027. This is with the specific aim of providing construction sector certainty on the pipeline.
Government consultation on the scale of fees for environmental judicial reviews is being led by the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment which will, in effect, limit the cost that the State pays in environmental judicial reviews.
The first meeting has been held of the new joint utilities and transport clearing house, which will ensure a shared understanding and better co-ordination between the utilities and transport sectors on infrastructure delivery.
We have the heads of Bill being brought to put the judicial review process on a statutory footing by my colleague, the Minister for justice, Deputy O'Callaghan, in January.
At this point, good progress is noted for actions required for delivery in quarter 1. Some of the progress areas include the following. The public consultation process on proposed scale of fees closed on 15 January 2026. Work on the critical infrastructure Bill is progressing in terms of drafting and input by the Attorney General, which is happening on a weekly basis. The publication of a general scheme in March has been confirmed in the Government's published priority legislative agenda. A high-level group on EU policy and the European co-ordinators network has been used to monitor legislation and regulations that may impact on infrastructure delivery. A meeting of this group took place on 21 January.
As committed under action 23, reforms to the infrastructure guidelines were brought by me to the Government for approval this week. These key reforms relate to higher thresholds for major projects, the discontinuation of the external assurance process and the reduced approval requirements prior to issue to try to simplify the approval steps.
The Government has also approved an enhanced role for the National Development Finance Agency to support infrastructure delivery and key Exchequer funded projects. A circular outlining how Departments may avail of this support will be published.
There has been a meeting of the joint utilities and transport clearing house which is continuing in quarter 1, 2026. My Department is also engaging with bodies to map structures and identify the key specific administrative constraints to effective co-ordination and delivery. There is also work ongoing on revised structures within the construction sector group to advise on actions detailed in the December report on how we can improve further productivity and innovation within the construction sector. The Minister of State, Deputy Feighan, and I will be advancing procurement reforms to further enhance the attractiveness of public sector construction.
My colleague, the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Deputy Lawless, and his Department have published and are working on a critical skills needs assessment for the construction sector. This sets out the wider delivery of increased labour force with the capital investment programme that we have. At this point, we have delivered what we said we would in quarter 4 of last year and we are working on continuing to build momentum in quarter 1 and beyond this year.
I thank the Minister for his comprehensive answer. I want to go back to what he said to Deputy John Connolly in relation to gate 2. I welcome the announcement that it will no longer need ministerial approval. The Minister said it did not add value, but added only time. How much time will this actually save? Is it four weeks, eight weeks or 20 weeks? This is an important point to highlight. Whether there is ministerial approval or not gets lost in translation for the person at home, whereas if we hear a solid number or estimate of the time that will be saved, it will send out a very positive message.
We are essentially reducing the number of approval steps from three to two. The critical approval role of a Minister is after the preliminary business case. It is about putting discipline on how a preliminary business case is designed. In many instances, the administrative timelines taken for preliminary business cases are far too excessive. We are trying to put much greater discipline on that in terms of the wider project design and how a preliminary business case is built up.
Even though political direction may have been given after the preliminary business case, there was an interim approval step which varied across Departments. Again, this will just simplify what is required in terms of the approval stop process. The Minister sets the direction post the preliminary business case which justifies why a project is needed following economic appraisal and assessment. The final decision of a Minister is post the tendering process where the tenders received align with the objectives set out in a preliminary business case. The critical involvement of a Minister is in those two areas. This median step only added time. If a Minister gives a direction at the preliminary business case, the outworking of that is to see the outcome of a tender and whether it meets the value requirements and the delivery that is set out in terms of the respective project.
The biggest time saving from the changes I am making in the infrastructure guidelines is on the removal of the external assurance gate. The average time taken on that is about 20 weeks. Some take months longer than that, while others take a little less time. This was a duplicate step and the advice I received was that the value proposition involved is questionable in terms of the time that it took. That is being removed entirely, in part to try to simplify the wider delivery process.
My understanding is that 17 of the task action points set out for quarter 1 sit with the Minister's Department and nine of those, if not progressed, cannot go any further. Has the Minister already identified any pinch points that could delay this progress and, if so, how are they going to be addressed?
We engage daily with the infrastructure team in the Department and the infrastructure division. According to the latest update, everything has been delivered in quarter 4 and we are on track with respect to the actions set for quarter 1 of this year. We are working in parallel to ensure steps or actions that are required in quarters 2 and 3 are being worked on as well if they have timelines in the middle of the year or later on in this year. Right now, there is progress across the respective areas. Over the last number of weeks, we have brought different memorandums to the Government in respect of various reforms to infrastructure delivery, such as the National Development Finance Agency, the reforms to the infrastructure guidelines and the conclusion of the sectoral investment plans, all of which aim to build momentum in terms of infrastructure delivery in the economy.
We will work on the critical pieces, ensuring the continued work on the critical infrastructure Bill advances. The intention is to bring the scheme to Government in March, which is a really important piece on providing legislative backing for the acceleration of infrastructure in the State. That is on track as well.
Deputy Butterly is next on the list with parliamentary question No. 70. Does she want to take it? This is the last question for the Department. If she does not want to take it, that is okay.
May I ask a further follow-up question?
For question No. 70 or this one?
A follow-up on this one. It would probably follow on more fluently, if the Minister is so willing.
Deputy Butterly has already used her time and I cannot allow extra time. Does Deputy Butterly want to take parliamentary question No. 70? She does not want to take it. That brings an end to questions to the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation.
Cuireadh an Dáil ar fionraí ar 10.21 a.m. agus cuireadh tús leis arís ar 10.26 a.m.
Sitting suspended at 10.21 a.m. and resumed at 10.26 a.m.
School Admissions
98. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the pilot single application system for post-primary school admissions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10773/26]
Mar a dúirt Teachtaí eile, déanaim comhghairdeas leis an Aire as ucht a poist nua. Go n-eirí léi. Tá muid ag súil go mbeidh muid ag oibriú le chéile chun dul chun cinn a dhéanamh. I want to get an update from the Minister on the pilot single application system for post-primary school admissions.
The roll-out of the pilot single online application for schools represents a significant step towards improving the school admissions system. This system has for the first time provided families with a single online application process and introduced synchronised and streamlined timelines for schools to manage admissions and issue offers.
In recent years, demographic shifts and increasing demand for special class provision for students with special educational needs have placed growing pressure on school admissions processes across the country. Complexities in the admissions process can cause unnecessary stress for families and place a significant administrative burden on schools. In response to these challenges and a commitment in the programme for Government to reforming the admissions process, my Department is working towards a nationwide common application system. As a first step, the apply to school pilot scheme was launched in October of last year for the 2026-27 admissions cycle. The pilot was introduced for 15 post-primary schools in five school planning areas, namely Athenry, Celbridge, Clonakilty, Greystones and Tullamore.
While the apply to school pilot scheme received positive feedback, obtaining an 80% customer effort score, a key objective of the pilot project was to accumulate learnings for future developments. Detailed post-project evaluations with participating schools are currently under way and this input will be carefully considered and integrated into future iterations of the scheme. Key deliverable improvements to the system aimed at further enhancing user experiences are targeted for the next phase of the project. More complex issues, such as the expression of school preference, will be considered for future implementation following appropriate consultation with key stakeholders, and with a focus on an equitable and transparent solution.
I expect to have a further update on the next phase of this project later in quarter 1 of this year, which will include clarity on greater system functionality and a larger cohort of participating schools. I assure the Deputy that my departmental officials will continue to work in consultation with all stakeholders to develop an evidentially informed, equitable and trusted solution for the nationwide common application system.
It is good to hear that the pilot across the 15 schools is progressing well. It is also a good idea that we trial a system like this with schools and learn across a few different areas before we do it nationally. Families, and parents in particular, know how difficult it is to secure a school place for their children, especially those seeking special education places. This is going to be particularly relevant and important in that area. The Minister of State, Deputy Michael Moynihan, mentioned earlier the amount of work being done with the NCSE on placements across the education system.
I have a constituent who has a child looking for a special place in second level, who has applied to 16 different schools across Dublin - from Rush to Kilnamanagh. They were individual applications, some posted and others in various different shapes and sizes. One can imagine the frustration of those parents who have to do that.
A system like this would help because the NCSE would be able to see what is coming and what the needs are. It would be able to assist greatly in that process. Does the Minister see an opportunity for this to be implemented in the future, particularly for special schools?
The Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, is doing great work on the special education side of the Department. That 1 October deadline is now moving. With regard to the data coming to the NCSE, it is getting notifications of requests and the need for special classes and special school places earlier. We absolutely acknowledge that the demand is increasing, and we are responding to that. The education budget for special education is now €3 billion. We will continue to work, both the Minister of State and I, with the NCSE, parents and schools to ensure that children get the places they require in a timely manner.
With regard to the common application process, we are getting feedback, including positive feedback that I have received from schools. There are issues but that is always the way with a pilot scheme. We need to be able to recognise the issues and try to unravel them and help schools. The 80% customer effort feedback was very positive.
Department officials are currently conducting more detailed post-product evaluation lessons and they will be integrated into the new phase. We are in a learning phase with the common application process. We want to take the stress away from parents so they do not have to be applying to numerous schools. We have to take a transparent and fair approach in this regard, working with school management bodies.
Duplicate school applications are an area where this could help because parents are naturally applying for multiple schools and schools think every application is a bona fide application. While it is, not every child will show up for every application in every school. That is where a system like this would be helpful. I look forward to hearing about the feedback later this year and the pilot being rolled out.
I might follow up directly with the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, separately in relation to that particular case because the constituent is frustrated. They are doing their best for their child in terms of the incoming school year. I will follow up with him in that regard.
I am open to feedback as well from parents and schools that are engaging with this common application process. The Department is engaging with them but feedback from Deputies is very much welcomed because we want to get this right in relation to any child seeking a place, be it for a mainstream class or special class. We want to work with them. I absolutely recognise the frustration of parents when trying to access a school place. The National Council for Special Education, NCSE, is working with me, the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, and the Department to make these spaces available as quickly as possible. We already have a number of tranches of special classes that were announced and we will continue to do that over the next few months. Having that earlier deadline of 1 October was helpful because we now have greater sight of the requests and demand for this upcoming school year.
Schools Building Projects
99. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Youth when a much-needed building project will proceed to the next stage (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10770/26]
This is the first opportunity I have had in this Chamber to wish the Minister every success in her role. It is always a demanding and challenging one in a Department that impacts so many people. As the Minister knows, I have been in regular contact with her through representations and parliamentary questions on the need to advance as quickly as possible a number of building projects throughout Cavan and Monaghan. This particular parliamentary question refers to the proposed building project at Milltown National School, Cavan, that needs to be advanced to the next stage as soon as possible, particularly to cater for the needs of children with additional needs.
I am pleased to inform the Deputy that a project comprising two mainstream classrooms, two special education tuition rooms and one special education needs base has been devolved for delivery to the school authority. This project was approved in 2022 and my Department has been engaging with the school to support it through stage 1 of the architectural design process to advance a design solution that is consistent with the approved project brief and in line with the Department’s technical standards. My Department has recently issued advice to the school and is currently awaiting submission of a revised stage 1 report.
My Department has a strong track record of delivering the Government’s school building programme, with over €6 billion invested since 2020. In that period, my Department has provided €92.61 million in capital funding for Cavan schools. There are currently four school projects under construction across the county. A total of 24 schools have been upgraded either through provision of a new school building, a large-scale extension or provision of modular accommodation.
As the Deputy will be aware, I have recently published the national development plan’s sectoral investment plan for education and youth, which is worth €7.55 billion out to 2030. This sets out my Department’s approach to prioritise investment in school infrastructure. There is a strong focus in the plan on maximising existing capacity and prioritising project roll-out to meet the most urgent needs, particularly to support special education provision. The project at the school in question forms part of this overall pipeline of school building projects that will continue to be managed in line with the funding parameters within which I have to work through the national development plan.
I strongly welcome the major investment in school buildings since 2020, both in my constituency and nationally. In her response, the Minister stated that the Department is awaiting a submission of a revised stage 1 report from the school. I have been in contact with the Department in this regard, as has the school. This will mean that the school will be submitting plans to the Department for the third time. The Department has requested that the design team cuts down on the cost of the project. In order to reduce the cost of the revised project, the architect is proposing that the new extension be elevated by 1.2 m. This will reduce costs of the excavation, earth disposal, retaining walls and access ramps. The proposed new drawings have both steps and an enclosed lift on the main corridor.
In an effort to speed up the process, and before the school sends the drawings to be repriced by the quantity surveyor, the board of management of the school has asked both me and the Department for clarification as to whether the building unit in the Minister’s Department will accept the building with split levels when pupils with special educational needs will be accessing those corridors. I appreciate that detail is not in the Minister’s briefing notes but I ask her to quickly give me a note on this or for the Department to write directly to the board of management and principal stating whether the revised plans with split levels are acceptable to the Department’s specifications. The school does not want to waste money in doing this if the plans will be rejected.
As the Deputy will appreciate, I cannot comment on the technical details of any school across the country. I can advise and certainly assist. I am sure there is a line of communication, as there always is, for these building projects where the design team of the school engages directly with the Department of education. I will certainly follow up with the Department to get clarity around that and ensure it engages with the school directly around those particular concerns. As the Deputy can imagine, I cannot give any kind of confirmation or otherwise in relation to technical and design elements of particular schools. If a line of communication is needed between the Department and the school, I have no issue facilitating that.
I fully appreciate that the Minister is not to get involved in technical details but the board of management, the principal and I have sought clarification from the Department and it has not been forthcoming. The board of management, the principal, Mr. Keith Conefrey, the parents’ association and all the staff do not want to waste time getting a redesign, submitting it to the Department and then being turned down again. We are talking about ensuring the best value for money here. An answer via a note to myself or directly to the school from the Minister’s Department would benefit everybody. It would benefit the Department from an expenditure point of view and it would also help speed up what is very much needed.
The Minister referred to this accommodation being particularly focused on the needs of pupils with additional needs and ensuring there is proper accommodation in that regard. This school’s enrolment has grown from 51 pupils 15 years ago to 175 pupils today. There is a special emphasis in this school on providing for children with additional needs. This accommodation is needed. If this project could be progressed as soon as possible, it would be a good day’s work for that community.
I will certainly raise the matter with the Department and ensure it engages directly with the school.
Special Educational Needs
100. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Education and Youth the measures being taken to ensure that schools in County Galway have appropriate SET and SNA allocations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9696/26]
On behalf of my colleague, Deputy O’Hara, I wish to ask about the measures being taken to ensure that schools in County Galway have appropriate special education training, SET, and special needs assistant, SNA, allocations.
I thank the Deputy for providing me with the opportunity to respond. As he knows, this Government is fully committed to supporting children with special educational needs to achieve their full potential. The primary responsibility for the education of all pupils, including those with special educational needs, is the class teacher or subject teacher.
The special education teaching allocation provides schools with additional teaching hours to support the learning needs of students in mainstream classes based on their profile of need. The number of special education teachers, SETs, in Galway has increased from 1,003 to 1,187 since the 2020-21 school year. Special needs assistants, SNAs, play a central role in the successful inclusion of students with additional and significant care needs in schools by helping to ensure that these students can access an education to enable them to achieve their best outcomes and reach their full potential.
The number of SNAs allocated to schools in Galway since the 2020-21 school year has increased from 887 to 1,224. By the end of this year, there will be close to 21,000 SETs and almost 25,000 SNAs in our mainstream classes, special classes and special schools.
In the case of both SETs and SNAs, it is accepted that any model which distributes resources requires to be flexible to allow for circumstances where additional need may arise. In these circumstances, schools, including those in Galway, can request the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, to undertake a review of their allocation. Where the NCSE identifies the need for additional resources, they will be provided so that they are available to the school ahead of the relevant school year.
It should be noted that schools in County Galway have seen an overall increase of 18% in the number of SETs in the past five years and, as I outlined, a 27% increase in SNA allocation.
We all welcome the increase in the numbers of SETs and SNAs, but I must say that the Minister of State's response does not reflect the reality. There is a massive unmet need. There is need for greater allocation. Worse than that, we have seen a pattern in recent years, and particularly in the last couple of years, of resources being taken from schools and different application of the same criteria as they apply to significant care. Children who had the necessary support of SNAs are now seeing it withdrawn, or there is at least the threat of that happening. That is the lived reality. It is worse to go to review and even worse to go to appeal. I ask the Minister of State to listen to any teacher or school community. It is a very serious concern. What is the Minister of State going to do about it?
We must accept that we have put a huge amount of resources into special education, particularly for SNAs and SETs. In this year's budget, it was one of the sectors that got the greatest increase. We are deeply committed. Whether in mainstream, special classes or special schools, the strength of our special educational system is based upon SNAs. They do amazing work in school communities. They enable children to flourish and benefit from the education system. On the backs of SNAs and SETs, we have built special education, together with all the school communities across the country.
We have close to 25,000 SNAs within the education system this year. There has been an increase in the budget figure and the number of SETs. We are continuing to invest in the education system and particularly on the special education side.
Warm words will not cut it. The reality is that on a daily basis, children who need the support of an SNA do not have it. Also on a daily basis, schools are faced with the reality of a cut or the threat of a cut to their SNA allocation. The children absolutely need those SNAs. The Minister of State's words do not reflect what schools are dealing with and what we, as public representatives, are hearing.
When representatives of Fórsa and the Department were before the committee, an indication was given that there would be some reflection of the expanded role of SNAs in the new workforce development plan. I took that as a positive. Everything in the meantime has been completely negative. Will that be the case with the workforce development plan? When will we see it?
The issue in respect of SNAs is coming up in my constituency. When the review from the NCSE comes along, there is a downward turn in respect of the numbers of SNAs. That is despite the fact that when the new students arrive, schools must again increase the numbers of SNAs. Long-term staff are being let go and rehired by another school, or reappointed when the new students come. Everything is a little topsy-turvy.
One school in Kilkenny contacted me. It is very concerned because it is going to lose 1.5 SNAs. The way the school is operating will mean there will be one SNA to 140 students in the mainstream. It has a lot of need. The school is in the direction of Newtown and Dunleckney. The Bagenalstown principal was in contact with me. That situation needs to be reviewed. We cannot be taking away services when we know that need is on the increase. That review needs to be paused. We should not be cutting SNAs when the level of need is increasing.
Like other Deputies, I have seen the same situation in my constituency. Bweeng National School in County Cork is losing two SNAs. Those are vital posts.
The Minister of State made a statement about all the things the Government is doing. On the ground, these reviews are leading to cuts. A number of schools in Cork city and county are losing SNAs. The Minister of State referred to the progress that the Government is making. The reason we are getting extra SNAs and SETs is that for years there was a shortage. The Government is only playing catch-up. At the same time, the Minister of State telling us how great the Government is. The reason there has been an increase is that previous Governments did not hire enough SNAs. I am deeply concerned about the impact of the current situation.
One SNA who contacted me said she loves her school and the children. As a mother herself, she cannot understand why the decision is being made. One parent said to me that there is no inclusion without support. Parents feel let down.
I take the point. If I may be a little flippant, I might contest that Bweeng is in the Cork North-West constituency, rather than Cork North-Central. That is only a flippant point.
Students from Cork North-Central are attending there because the school has two special classes. I am just letting the Minister of State know that.
I appreciate that. I understand. I am fully aware of the work that is going on in Bweeng. I do not want to single out any specific school. I take the point.
If I am realistic, I am heartened each time there is a debate on special education by the commitment across the House and Deputies' fundamental understanding of the challenges that are there in respect of special educational needs and special classes. We are putting in resources. There are almost 25,000 SNAs across the system. We are putting in further supports for educational needs.
I take the point that there is a considerable amount of need within the school communities. We are working extremely closely with them. Neither the Minister, Deputy Naughton, nor I is blind to the challenge we have and the growing need that is there. We are going to continue to expand. We expanded the figures in the most recent budget and will continue to do so. With the resources in the classrooms, we will allow children to grow and develop and to lead as full a life as possible. That is fundamentally what I believe.
I take the Deputies' points. Each school should engage with the process for reviews and appeals. There is a process there. However, I take the point about the seriousness of the engagement.
101. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Youth the projected timeline for the roll-out of the 1,717 additional SNAs and 860 additional SETs announced as part of budget 2026; the regional allocation model; and the measures in place to ensure timely recruitment. [11013/26]
The budget promised over 1,700 SNAs and 860 new SETs. I ask the Minister of State about recruitment and delivery so far, and the timelines involved for the roll-out of those SNAs and SETs.
I thank the Deputy.
The Government is fully committed to supporting special education needs to achieve their full potential and the programme for Government makes a number of commitments to deliver on this objective. The NCSE has responsibility for co-ordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special education needs. I assure the Deputy the 860 special education teachers and 1,700 special needs assistants will be allocated well in advance of the commencement of the 2026-2027 school year to mainstream classes, special classes and special schools. As in previous years, the special education teaching allocations for mainstream classes is intended to be published as part of the general staffing allocation in February. The NCSE manages the allocation of SNAs to the school and it is the responsibility of the council to ensure these resources are allocated to children with the greatest level of need. The number of SNAs available for allocation has continued to increase annually and this has resulted in a significant increase in the number of SNA posts in schools. Budget 2026 provides for a further 1,700 SNA posts, which will bring the total number to close to 25,000 by the end of 2026.
As in previous years, the NCSE will advise all schools of their SNA allocations in this year and these allocations will be made known to schools at an earlier stage than in previous years. The provision of early allocation to schools will ensure they will be in a position to plan for the 2026-2027 school year, including recruitment where necessary. In addition, given the large number of additional resources for specialised provision, it is important to point out 300 special classes have already been sanctioned for 2026. That is months ahead of where we were last year. This time last year we just looking at the numbers in the first and second week of February. We are a number of months ahead, we have those sanctioned and there will be recruitment in relation to those as well.
I thank the Minister of State. I asked this question because of the importance of schools and families being able to plan. However, in reality there are families who still do not know what school they can send their child to. They are right across Mayo. A special school in Mayo that does absolutely wonderful work is St. Anthony's School in Castlebar. The management team of Fiona Byrne, Anna Sweeney, Helena Brady as well as all the staff do amazing work but within the first hour of admissions opening for this calendar year the school was oversubscribed. Applicants exceeded the capacity of the school. That is leaving families and also the school in an incredibly difficult scenario. The Minister of State says this is going to happen in February and March but families are struggling and stressed today. St. Anthony's and many other schools across Mayo are trying to accommodate children but they do not know what resources they will have. This is a priority. There must be an expected timeframe for delivery.
I thank the Deputy. Last year 1 February was the deadline. That was extended by a week due to Storm Éowyn. We looked at trying to plan in February, March and April last year and saw the challenges families and people were meeting. A decision was made by the then Minister, Deputy McEntee, and me to bring the dates back to 1 October. One of the first discussions I had with the Minister, Deputy Naughton, upon her appointment was to look at the whole concept so we can bring better planning into the system and greater certainty for students and families. A number of years ago I was at a school gate meeting a family whose child was finishing sixth class on 26 June without knowing where the child was going to start post-primary education in September. Through the various challenges we have had on it, I constantly have that family in my mind, and we need to do far better. The Deputy makes the point that families and parents are stressed about this. We have moved this system back four or five months to bring certainty to them.
Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Stáit. It is fundamental that families have certainty today. They need to know. We talk about forward planning and so on but in Mayo letters are coming from the Department and the NCSE and basically promising children a place in a special education school. Then the family goes to the school and is told it is oversubscribed. That is the type of planning I am talking about. The system is so disconnected. How do we have a scenario where the NCSE is delivering letters promising a special education place when there is no such place in Mayo for the child? That is the point I want to get across to the Minister of State. I must acknowledge the 2,500 teachers promised in the budget is very ambitious but I am asking the Minister of State for certainty and timelines for SNAs and special education teachers for St. Anthony's School and for many other schools across Mayo.
Deputy Cummins has a supplementary question, as does Deputy Gould.
I thank the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach for letting me come in. I agree with Deputy Lawless and the Minister of State that the planning is most welcome because there is then an opportunity to foresee what is going to come down the tracks. However, I have raised several times that the 1 October cut-off point has been very detrimental to parents and I am still hearing they are not being given letters of eligibility and are being told the portal has closed. What is the solution to that? I am still concerned. I had a meeting yesterday with a number of parents, teachers and principals about special education and there is still huge confusion. The Minister and Minister of State are doing their best on the forward planning and I appreciate that but a bit of clarity would help. Families feel there is a drip feed of information on the plan being put in place for next year, so the speedier that is the better. I am especially worried about those who are going into post-primary who still have not heard where they are going. The transition is very important, particularly the one from primary to secondary school.
This goes back to the Minister of State's point about planning. We welcome extra resources, special classes and special schools. I spoke to a principal yesterday. St. Killian's School wants to build an additional school as it is full to capacity and there is a need for extra places. I know of a child in Cork and we are in February now but he has no school place. How can a child have no school place? I hear about all these announcements but what is happening on the ground is children being left behind. The Minister of State is talking about planning. The principals of the special schools must be included in decision-making, planning and engagement because they are the people who are on the ground and know what is happening. I have a final point in relation to Bweeng. You have children going to special schools and classes all over the county because there are not places where they are from. I take the point made earlier but I am a TD for Cork North-Central and I know of children going to Cork East, Cork North-West and Cork South-Central. They are travelling from Knocknaheeney to Carrigaline and to Macroom. That is what is happening on the ground.
I accept the point they are travelling across the county. Transport and trying to ensure the provision of special education is as close as possible to families is one of the things we have discussed. A lot of children with additional needs are travelling long distances to get to their school places and it is something we need to be very mindful of. Regarding 1 October, for anyone after that date we are issuing the letters of eligibility. Those letters have started over the past day or so and they will continue. We have worked very closely on it. I want to be clear on this because there is some commentary that 1 October is an arbitrary deadline but 1 October was brought in to ensure we would be in a position to have forward planning. On that planning, it is important we have sight of the information from other Departments like the Departments of children and Social Protection. We need good information to plan properly. There are a raft of issues around it but we need sight of where the challenges are. We are looking at ways and means of ensuring we have information earlier, not just when the parent notifies the NCSE but also if a child is on domiciliary care or AIMS.
I have no issue if the Deputies have individual cases. We will work with them to try to find solutions for them.
Education Schemes
102. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the establishment of a new DEIS plus scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10774/26]
My question relates to a topic I have raised on previous occasions, namely, DEIS plus and getting it on the blocks for those schools and communities that need it the most. I would appreciate an update.
I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. Tackling educational disadvantage is a key priority for me as Minister. The DEIS programme is my Department's policy to support schools with high concentrations of students at risk of educational disadvantage. Though DEIS, my Department provides over €180 million in additional resources to almost 1,200 primary and post-primary schools, reaching approximately 260,000 students.
I am also aware that there are students at risk of educational disadvantage in all schools. My Department provides a range of universal supports, including free schoolbooks and access to the National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS, to all schools that support students at risk of educational disadvantage.
The success of the DEIS programme is clear. Schools in the programme have significantly narrowed the outcome gaps with non-DEIS schools. However, for a cohort of schools with the highest concentrations of students experiencing educational disadvantage, a significant gap in educational outcomes remains. Budget 2026 added an additional €16.5 million in 2026, rising to €48 million in 2027, to support the implementation of the new DEIS strategy, and the achievement of the programme for Government commitment to introduce a DEIS plus scheme to support those schools.
I recently met the DEIS plus design advisory group, which has helped to inform the development of the DEIS plus scheme. The group includes principals, home school community liaison officers and school completion programme co-ordinators who work directly with students experiencing high levels of educational disadvantage. I heard first-hand from this group about daily challenges faced by students, such as reliance on school meals - the hot school meals programme is important across the country and is another universal approach from the Government - and the impact of intergenerational trauma. I also heard about what works and how we can build on that through DEIS plus. The new DEIS strategy, including the new DEIS plus scheme, is currently being finalised, which is probably the Deputy's question, and will be published in the coming weeks.
It is good to hear that the strategy is coming. The beauty of DEIS plus is that it can take educational resources and really target them at students who need them the most. I have regular contact with schools in my area, including Our Lady Immaculate Senior National School in Darndale, St. Francis Senior National School in Priorswood and St. Joseph's Coolock, which are located in areas of serious deprivation and disadvantage. DEIS plus will, I hope, help them greatly and cannot come soon enough.
Those schools need to know they will be in the programme. Principals need to start planning for 2026-27. What will they get when the rubber hits the road? When will they get it? What else do they need to do to plan? What else do the principals and management teams in those schools need to do? I welcome that the plan will be published very soon. I hope it will include the level of detail those schools will need. I appreciate the ongoing support from the Department for the programme. I look forward to a further commitment of resources in the years ahead to support it.
Under the DEIS programme, 306 primary schools with the highest concentration of children at risk of educational disadvantage are included in DEIS urban band 1. These schools receive the highest level of staffing and funding available under the DEIS programme. The Department recently introduced two additional measures to support children in schools at very high levels of disadvantage. Strand 1 of the counselling and primary schools pilot was extended to 61 urban DEIS primary schools in Tallaght, Clondalkin, Ballymun, Finglas and Darndale. This pilot provides one-to-one counselling support for children most in need. Funding was also provided for the appointment of 15 community link workers to support Traveller and Roma children and those at risk of educational disadvantage. These roles will work with families, schools and communities to improve attendance, participation and achievement in education.
Regarding the DEIS plus programme, it will be targeted towards schools at the highest level of educational disadvantage. They will not need to apply to become a DEIS plus school.
I appreciate that. I welcome the fact that the plan should be signed off on very soon. What are the expectations of the Minister in terms of the Department notifying schools? As she said, they will likely be automatically included in the programme. What are the views of the Minister on how schools will be notified so that they can start planning for 2026-27? That educational year will come upon us very soon and schools will be closed will summer. Management will work on these priorities through the summer. What does the Minister see happening once the plan is published and agreed?
The schools will be notified. A design advisory group was established to inform the Department of the DEIS plus schemes. That group includes principals, home school liaison officers, school completion programme co-ordinators and professionals who work directly with these children. The Department has engaged with other Departments, agencies, education partners and stakeholders across the education sector to develop the scheme and make sure it is reaching those children and students who need the supports the most.
In 2024 and 2025, my Department carried out consultation workshops, focus groups and other engagements with key education stakeholders, including children and young people. That work has been ongoing and it is extremely important in informing development in this area.
Analysis of the HP deprivation index indicates that areas with high intergenerational disadvantage are primarily located in urban areas where poverty related challenges such as hunger, substance abuse, domestic abuse, parental incarceration, eviction and homelessness are most acute. These challenges are also reflected in schools in those areas where the outcomes for urban schools in the DEIS programme are lower than for DEIS schools in rural areas.
Education Policy
103. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Oideachais agus Óige na ceantair pleanála scoile sa Stát nach bhfuil meánscoil lánGhaeilge iontu a ainmniú, agus cad iad na bearta i ngach cás acu atá déanta ag a Roinn chun an bearna sin a líonadh [10906/26]
Tá an cheist seo dírithe ar na ceantair pleanála scoile sa Stáit nach bhfuil meánscoil lánGhaeilge iontu agus iad sin a ainmniú, agus ar cad atá ar siúl chun an bearna sin a líonadh agus an t-éileamh atá ann do Ghaelscolaíocht ag an dara leibhéal a shásamh.
Mar a d’fhéadfadh an Teachta Dála a bheith ar an eolas faoi, tá 314 ceantar pleanála scoile ar fud na tíre agus tá 50 Gaelcholáiste ag feidhmiú faoi láthair. Seolfar liosta de na ceantair pleanála scoile nach bhfuil iarbhunscoil lánGhaeilge nó Gaelcholáiste iontu go díreach chuig an Teachta Dála mar a iarradh.
There is varying demand for Irish-medium post-primary provision across the country, which is evidenced by the majority of Gaelcholáiste having underutilised capacity, even in areas of demographic pressures. Aonaid are an important element of Irish-medium post-primary provision where demand levels are not sufficient to support a sustainable Gaelcholáiste. Many school planning areas are meeting local needs in this way.
D'fhoilsigh mo Roinn plean infheistíochta earnála le déanaí ina soláthraítear faisnéis ar threo an tsoláthair trí mheán na Gaeilge agus luaitear ann go ndearnadh infheistíocht chaipitil €466 milliún ó bhí 2020 ann. Tá infheistíocht bhreise beartaithe faoi choinne soláthar trí mheán na Gaeilge mar chuid d’fheidhmiú céimneach tionscadal faoin PFN in 2026 agus in 2027.
The programme for Government 2025, Securing Ireland's Future, includes a commitment to establish Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáiste where there is demand and support for parents choosing Irish-medium education for their children. In that context, last November my Department published a policy for Irish-medium education outside the Gaeltacht. The policy sets out the Department's vision that high-quality Irish-medium education will be available to all in inclusive and multicultural settings.
A task force on models of provision of Irish-medium education was established as a key action under the policy. The role of that task force is to provide a platform for collaboration between the Department and key stakeholders to develop a pathway to increase the provision of Irish-medium education.
That task force is expected to be completed within one year and will make recommendations to my Department on areas such as the criteria for Irish-medium education provision and how to support schools transitioning to Irish-medium education and mechanisms to facilitate expansion.
Tuigim cad atá á rá ag an Aire agus fáiltím roimh an tascfhórsa, ach amháin go bhfuil sé blianta ró-dhéanach do a lán dóibh siúd atá tar éis teacht tríd an córas Gaeloideachais ag an mbunleibhéal, agus nach raibh aon sholáthar dóibh dul chuig meánscoil trí mheán na Gaeilge. Is é sin an Stát ag loic ar na cearta oideachais agus teanga atá na daltaí sin ar fad. Ní mise atá á rá sin, ach an Coimisinéir Teanga. Dúirt an coimisinéir ag an gcoiste Gaeilge, Gaeltachta agus Pobal Labhartha na Gaeilge in 2024, "Ní léir go bhfuil freastal cóir á dhéanamh, áfach, ar an éileamh ar sholáthar na iarbhunscolaíochta lán-Ghaeilge." Ní leor an méid sin. Ar an liosta de na ceantair nach bhfuil an soláthar sin ar fáil iontu, cé go bhfuil an t-éileamh ann, tá leithéidí Caisleán an Bharraigh, Cill Dhéagláin, Coill na Silíní, Droichead na Bandan, Fionnbhrú, Sord agus Mullach Íde. Is iad sin na háiteanna ina bhfuil breis is 500 dalta ag iarraidh freastal ar Ghaelcholáiste. Is gá obair i bhfad Éireann níos tapúla a dhéanamh ná mar atá i gceist ó thaobh an tascfhórsa de.
We have a commitment in the programme for Government to establish Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí where there is demand to support parents to choose Irish-medium education for their children. My Department launched the new policy last November. A key action of that policy was the establishment of the task force. My Department has established three new Irish-medium post-primary schools since 2014 for demographic reasons - Coláiste Ghlór na Mara in Balbriggan, Gaelcholáiste an Phiarsaigh in Rathfarnham, and Gaelcholáiste Charraig Uí Leighin in Cork. The task force is going to make recommendations covering a number areas such as the models needed to provide Irish-medium education at primary and post-primary levels, the definitions of those various models, how inclusive the high quality of Irish-medium education that can be provided within each model along that continuum, what supports the schools may need to implement these models and how to effectively assess the demand for Irish-medium education.
Tá léarscáil ansin agus tabharfaidh mé don Aire níos déanaí é. Taispeánann na pointí buí ar an léarscáil na Gaelscoileanna. Tá éileamh ann don oideachas trí Ghaeilge. Níl, nach mór i lár na tíre ar fad, aon mheánscoil lánGhaeilge. Tá éileamh ann. B'fhéidir nach bhfuil sé chomh mór céanna leis an éileamh don Bhéarla, ach ní chiallaíonn sé sin gur chóir don Stát loic ar na cearta atá ag daltaí oideachas a bheith acu trí Ghaeilge. Tá ag teipeadh ar an Stát. Glacaim leis go bhfuil céimeanna chun tosaigh glactha ach, in ainneoin an méid a dúirt an tAire, níl go leor acu. Is gá díriú isteach air sin. Dúirt an tAire ag an tús go bhfuil 314 ceantar pleanála scoile ann. Tá 264 acu sin gan meánscoil trí Ghaeilge. Is léiriú é sin ar an fhadhb bhunúsach atá ann ó thaobh an Stát de. An bhfuil an Roinn chun díriú isteach ar na háiteanna ar luaigh mé ina bhfuil feachtais, tuismitheoirí agus éileamh atá cruthaithe cheana féin?
Aontaím go hiomlán leis an méid atá ráite ag mo chomhghleacaí, an Teachta Ó Snodaigh, i dtaobh na háiteanna nach bhfuil meánscoileanna lánGhaeilge iontu. Tá an-chuid de na meánscoileanna lánGhaeilge atá againn faoi bhrú i dtaobh foirgnimh agus spáis. Tá éileamh níos mó ann ná mar gur féidir leo freastal air de dheasca an easpa infheistíochta i bhfoirgnimh, suíomhanna agus a leithéid. Táim ag smaoineamh ar Ghaelcholáiste Phort Láirge i gcathair Phort Láirge, a bhfuil ag feidhmiú as prefabs le blianta anuas agus nach bhfuil baile dá chuid féin aige. Freastalaíonn an Ghaelcholáiste seo ar éileamh ó roinnt mhaith bunscoileanna lánGhaeilge sa cheantar - i dTrá Mhór, i gcathair Phort Láirge agus sa cheantar mághuaird. Ta géarghá anois le hinfheistíocht ní hamháin sna cheantair nach bhfuil meánscoil lánGhaeilge iontu ach freisin sna meánscoileanna lánGhaeilge atá ar an bhfód cheana féin.
Ba mhaith liom déileáil le fadhb atá ann maidir le Gaelcholáiste Dhún Dealgan. Tá sé mar scoil satailíte de chuid Choláiste Ghlór na Mara i mBaile Brigín. Tá fadhb sa scoil maidir leis an gcóras iompair. Nílimid sásta leis an bhfreagra atá faighte againn ón Roinn. Níl córas iompair á chur ar fáil fá choinne na scoile. Ba cheart go mbeidh sé sin déanta. Chomh maith leis sin, tá fadhb ann maidir le scrúduithe. Tá uimhir scrúdaithe de dhíth ón scoil fá choinne na scrúduithe móra Stáit. It is fairly straightforward. There is a particular issue with the Gaelcholáiste. It is trying to grow its numbers. It is a project to try to grow a Gaelcholáiste at secondary level in Dundalk through Irish and it really needs facilitation in relation to transport. The answer at the minute from the Department is not good enough. An exam number is needed so people do not have to travel to Balbriggan to do the State exams.
There are currently 50 Gaelcholáistí across the country and almost all of them are undersubscribed for enrolments. This Government is committed to establishing and supporting-----
On a point of order, the Minister cannot put wrong facts on the record. Coláistí Eoin and Iosagáin are bursting at the seams. They are not undersubscribed in any sense. The Department has accepted that.
The Minister to respond. Can the Deputy sit down, please?
My Department and the Government are absolutely committed to expanding the number of Gaelcholáistí and Gaelscoileanna across the country. As the Deputy knows, there was a recent primary school survey which included questions to establish parental interest in Irish-medium provision and while it was a survey for primary schools, it provides very useful information and a guide to inform post-primary provision. There will be further clarity on the outcomes of that survey later this year. We have committed in the programme for Government to establishing Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí where there is demand. The task force in undergoing work in relation to this. I will keep Members updated. I am absolutely in support of the need to expand this and where schools need to be upgraded as part of our NDP, the Department will engage directly with those schools, particularly with the energy and condition surveys that are happening throughout this year.
Special Educational Needs
104. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Youth the way in which children with additional needs in Drogheda without a school place will be accommodated for the upcoming school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11023/26]
On behalf of Deputy Byrne, I ask about the way in which children with additional needs in Drogheda without a school place will be accommodated for the upcoming school year. On behalf of Deputy Byrne, I raise the specific case of Alfie, an eight-year-old boy from Drogheda. His mum, Lorraine, expressly asked that his case be raised. He is one of a number of children in mainstream school with a recommendation for a special school or class place but who do not have a letter of eligibility from the NCSE. What advice can the Minister give for young Alfie?
My understanding is the issue is 1 October. That is my information on that specific case. We are aware of it and will follow up and report back to both the Deputy and his colleague.
In regard to Drogheda and County Louth, in particular, the Government is committed to continuing acceleration of provision of additional special classes and special school places across the country. The National Council for Special Education is the statutory body responsible for that and the Department and the NCSE are working very closely with both myself and the senior Minister in the Department, Deputy Naughton, to ensure we have certainty for families and students into the 2026-2027 school year.
To date, the Department and NCSE have sanctioned 301 special school classes. That is a number of months earlier than it was last year. Five of these new special classes are being provided in County Louth. This brings to 120 the total number of special classes available across County Louth.
Additionally, there are four special schools in County Louth supporting 421 children. The sanctioning of these new special classes is a number of months ahead of last year and should provide greater certainty for parents. It also provides schools with more time to establish new classes. I expect schools will open new classes to move forward now with admissions processes. The NCSE will keep us informed weekly of developments in relation to the special classes and the provision of education.
We will respond directly to the Deputy and his colleague on the issue raised. As we are talking about Gaelcholáistí, I think visitors from Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí are about to join us in the Public Gallery. It would be remiss of me if I did not mention it. I have a vested interest. My good lady wife is working in the school.
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Written Answers are published on the Oireachtas website.